Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

A solemn event marking the 70th jubilee of Polad Bulbuloglu, Peoples Artist of Azerbaijan was held in Baku on February 4.

The event brought together State and Governmental officials, MPS, scientific and cultural figures and representatives of the society.
Peoples Artist of USSR, Russian singer Iosif Kobzon, honorary Artist of Russia Bari Alibasov, composer Eugen Doga, Peoples Artist Lyudmila Rumina, Peoples Artist of Tajikistan Jurabek Murodov, and USSR State Prize winner Andrey Dementyev attended the event.

The state Symphony Orchestra named Uzeyir Hajibeyli performed during the event. Polad Bulbuloglu performed his famous song “Azerbaijan”.

Then, he spoke about care and attention of national leader Heydar Aliyev to his generation. Bulbuloglu said political course of the national leader today is successfully continued by President Ilham Aliyev.

He thanked President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for appreciation of his activity.

Addressing the event, Mikhail Shvidkoy, Russian President's special envoy for international cultural cooperation with foreign countries, said, according to relevant order of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to Russia Polad Bulbuloglu was awarded with the “Order of Honor” for his contribution to strengthening cooperation and friendship with Russia and developing cultural relations.

Belarus’s Ambassador Nikolay Pastkevich read out a congratulatory letter of President Alexander Lukashenko to Polad Bulbuloglu. “You are loved and highly appreciated in Belarus not only because of your contribution to Azerbaijani, but also the world culture,” he said.

The attendees also heard the congratulatory messages by President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Chairman of the State Duma - Sergey Naryshkin, Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin, and President of the Russian Federation’s Tatarstan Republic Rustam Minnikhanov.

The event was also remembered with the congratulations of guests in the form of poems, music, gifts, humor and fun memories about Polad. They talked about his ballet, musical, instrumental, vocal, symphonic, folded songs and romances, which enriched the national treasure.

On February 3, Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Baku pleased Bakuians and guests of the capital with a premiere of “Love and Death” ballet, dedicated to the birthday anniversary of Polad.

The music of the ballet composed by the birthday celebrator can be seen as a true saga and musical paraphrase of the eternal life book titled "Dede Gorgud". This is a play about undying love and powerlessness of death before the feats of heroes.

Polad became famous in the whole Soviet Union by composing jazz-influenced pop songs with deep folk feelings in Azerbaijani and Russian.

Polad was also extremely talented to enrich the cinematography. His beautiful songs, performances and popular roles in many films turned him into a film star and gained ever large popularity and sympathy among cinema lovers.

In the 1990s, despite having a huge success with a new version of his old song “Gel Ey Seher” (Come, Hey Morning!) in Turkey and sold-out concerts in Russia, Polad started a political career. He became Azerbaijan’s Culture Minister and is currently Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz