Azerbaijan Meets Los Angeles

Azerbaijani Music, Art and Cuisine presented in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An event entitled "Azerbaijan meets Los Angeles" was held February 5, 2013 at the prestigious Skriball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Organized jointly by the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles, the well-attended event included high-ranking representation of the Los Angeles County, LA-based Consuls General and Honorary Consuls, representatives of the California State Legislature, university professors, leaders of cultural institutions, as well as members of Azerbaijani, Turkish, Jewish and Persian communities.

The event started with a concert where Azerbaijani Mugham - UNESCO-proclaimed Masterpiece of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - was masterfully blended with American Jazz by talented musicians from both countries. Azerbaijani Mugham songs performed by instrumental musicians Imamyar Hasanov (kamancha), Rufat Hasanov (tar) and Elshan Gasimov (naghara) were accompanied by San Diego-based Jazz Quartet led by Peter Sprague, a critically acclaimed American jazz guitarist.

The captivating concert was followed by the opening ceremony of an art exhibition titled "Azerbaijani Customs Services on Guard of Cultural Heritage". Ancient artifacts (some of them being 2,700 years old!) and other invaluable pieces of art, including the world-famous Karabakh carpets, from the collection of museums of Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee were displayed at the exhibition.

Welcoming the guests, Azerbaijan's Consul General in Los Angeles Nasimi Aghayev noted the importance of events of this kind for both promotion of Azerbaijan's rich music, culture and art in California as well as for fostering mutual understanding and strengthening the bonds between the Azerbaijani and American peoples.

Addressing the audience, Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan, Lt-General of Customs Service Aydin Aliyev spoke about the measures taken by the Committee to safeguard the unique items of arts and crafts displayed at the exhibition for the enjoyment of generations to come. He also noted the immense damage on the world's cultural heritage inflicted by smuggling of cultural values out of and through the uncontrolled territories, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, which currently remains under illegal military occupation by Armenia, and stressed in this regard the significance of joint fight for preventing these crimes.

The attendees then viewed the exhibition while enjoying delicious food including Azerbaijani pastries and wine.

The event has now relocated southwards, and will be held today, February 8, in San Diego with a title "Azerbaijan meets San Diego."

SOURCE Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Los Angeles