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Jeyhun Gadjibeyli:
«I have more relatives here than in Paris»
 The first congress of the world Azeris that had recently taken place in Baku became the historical event. The main goal of this forum is in strengthening the Azeri Diaspora and its influence on the processes going on abroad and directly related to us. In this respect the cultural part of our life is also very important.
Therefore, the news about the arrival of Jeyhun Gadjibeyli, the descendant of the famous Azeri composer, founder of the national classic musical culture, Uzeir Gajibekov, was met with great enthusiasm. The importance of the creative activity of this wonderful master, whose name personifies the development of the national art is understand by all. Therefore everything that is related to his name is of great interest to us.
Jeyhun Jean-Kleman Gadjibeyli, is the grandson of Uzeir Gadjibekov’s brother, Jeyhun Gadjibeyli, who was one of the leaders of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. When soviet power was established in Azerbaijan in 1920, Jeyhun Gadjibeyli, was attending the peace conference in Versailles as a member of the delegation of ADR. After the coup he didn’t return to his mother country and stayed in Paris. The years passed, and his son Teymurchin visited the historical mother country of his father several times and even went to Shusha, that is still considered the cradle of Azeri national culture. As for his son and grandnephew, this has been his first visit to Baku.
We met with J. Gadjibeyli in the house-museum of Uzeir Gadjibekov overcrowded by relatives and simply Bakuvites who wished to meet the descendant of the great composer. The guest was charmed by the aura of the house that inspires one to come here again and again. Here had the opportunity to meet his numerous relatives. The famous people of the national culture, the professors and the investigators of the creative activity of Uzeir Gadjibekov shared the warm recollections and words of love standing at the old piano of the composer. The Azeri people known for their hospitality and generosity presented the guest with valuable presents. The nearest relatives handed him the old portrait of Uzeir Gadjibekovand a handmade carpet woven by the Karabakh craftsmen. In his speech the French Azeri said that he hadn’t expected such a touching receipt. «I didn’t think that having come here I would get acquainted with such a great number of my relatives. I have them more here, now, than in Paris».
As usual for the country with old musical traditions, the concert comprised of the compositions of the Azeri composers was given in the name of the guest, and Fidan Kasimova sang the romance and aria from «Keroglu» opera.
Having found an opportunity we asked several questions from the guest.
-You were 13 when your grandfather died. Do you remember any of his stories?
-My grandfather was not a very talkative man and devoted most of his time to the literature work. However, he was very gentle and attentive to his family and close friends. He could talk about his favourite Shusha for hours trying to describe its beauty, and he also told about his friends he had to part with. At that moments his eyes were filling with tears. Maybe these stories inspired my desire to come here, though even my French passport failed to help me in visiting Shusha.
-As I know, the musical genes of your family continue in the next generations....
-Yes, almost all in our family are the musicians, my mother was singing the classics and her mother was playing piano. I have devoted my life to the jazz, only my son, also Jeyhun, is the aviator.
-Do your jazz composition contain the oriental colour?
- You will not believe, but from the very beginning of my activity I have been interested in the improvisations based on the elements and spirit of the Azeri national music. This speaks about the strength of the genetic code. I love and often play the music of Vagif Mustafazade and I am always pleased to give the broad information about this jazzman to those who are interested in his compositions.
-Does it mean certain promotion of our music in France?
-I do whatever I can in this respect. I try to get the French people acquainted with the Azeri music, with the works of classic composers and modern musicians. Thus, Niyazi is very popular in France.
-What impressions of your stay in Baku you are leaving with?
-I am grateful to all for this warm and kind receipt that made me to feel at home from the first moment I have stepped this land. I was lucky to get acquainted with many wonderful people, to see the house where my ancestors used to gather, and this is very important for a man as there is no future without the past.
My grandfather taught me that there are the really everlasting values for which neither the distance nor the time matter. I know for sure, now, that in six months I will visit again my home, Baku, having learned, in advance, my native language.
Europe applauds to Sabina
 They say that Paganini’s music was distinguished not only by the unusual virtuosity but the great influence on the audience. His magic violin made people to think of it as of real being, because only the living body could produce such gentle and warm sounds. Today the same is said about the performance of the world-known violist, Bashmet.
This parallel is not sudden, as the violinist we are going to speak about is distinguished by the talent that is granted by God. Sabina Rakcheyeva, the graduate of Baku Musical Academy, laureate of numerous competitions, permanent participant of various cultural events of our town. Her performance greatly influences the souls of the people, including the famous musicians. Mstislav Rostropovitch, Farkhad Badalbeyli and many other masters say that musical compositions performed by her are each time the discovery for them. At present, through the support of the Vice-President of SOCAR, President of NOC, Ilham Aliyev, Sabina Rakcheyeva is getting educated in America, in the world-known Juliard school, the study in which is a great achievement in itself. But the activity of the young violinist is not limited by this; she is the member of the famous Verbier orchestra comprised of the young musicians only. Sabina was admitted to this orchestra after the most thorough selection, and now successfully goes on tours with it all over the world. Having contacted with Sabina through Internet we asked her about her recent successes.
-Last year the youth orchestra was set up by the initiative of the steering committee of the Verbier festival. It was financed by the UBS, the largest Swiss bank. All the members of this group, including myself work there free. I have been playing with this orchestra for two years already, and believe me, this is the greatest and incomparable with anything pleasure. The work with such genius conductors as James Levayn, Zubin Mehta, Yuri Ttemirkanov, Kant Nahano, and many others is a real luck; one begins understanding and hearing such details in the music, that have been neglected before. All the conductors have individual approach and musical taste, and if they are convincing the result is perfect, otherwise the music would have been monotonous. The festival also includes the chamber music concerts. Each year such outstanding composers, as G. Cremer, Yu. Bashmet, V. Repin, M. Argerich come here. In the frameworks of the festival I was lucky to play with Dmitri Sitkovetski (violin), the son of our countrywoman Bella Davidovicg, and Michell Dalberto (piano). It was very interesting to talk with Sitkovetsky who spoke very warm while recollecting his visit to our Baku.
The orchestra has a very vast schedule of the tours. Thus, last year we visited many musical capitals of Europe, such as Paris, London, Berlin, Frankfurt, Zurich, Barcelona, Madrid and Monaco. I was lucky to play in the halls of Berlin Filarmonic, Forum Grimaldi. These were unforgettable tours. The work in the orchestra is characterised by the common enthusiasm and inspiration despite of the tiredness of the endless rehearsals. Thus, for example, we had a number of concerts in Switzerland, where we had to play two concerts a day for six continuous days. However, the group members played perfect.
-What is the education in the Juliard distinguished with?
-In fact, the education in this school doesn’t differ much from our musical schools. However, there is still some difference, one of them being the selection of the discipline according to your taste. Moreover, besides the principal musical studies the educational course includes such an important element as the «Career Planing». I think that this is a very useful training as its main goal is to teach the young people to conduct the musical business properly.
-What are your nearest plans?
-The solo concert and the chamber program with my friends in the Juliard. I am also preparing to the jazz concert of the Juliard orchestra and this is very responsible performance as America is the mother country of jazz and people of this country are the best experts of this music and love it very much. I am please to hear the perfect comments about the creative activity of my countrywoman, Aziza Mustafazade. I think that today she is one of the best representatives of Azerbaijan in the world of art. This month the Verbier orchestra plans its regular concert tour, this time to the North and South America. Our first concert will be held in Toronto, to be followed by debut in the famous Kornegi Hall, where James Levyne will be conducting. We will perform the symphonic tale «Petya and Wolf» of S. Prokofiyef. The text will be read by Sheron Stone. Then we will give the concerts in Chicago, Miami, San-Paulo, and the tour will complete in Buenos-Aires.
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