Polad Bulbuloglu Celebrates 80th Birthday with Grand Concert
A grand concert, "Return," was held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace in Baku on February 4th to celebrate the 80th birthday of renowned Azerbaijani artist, composer, People's Artist, Chairman of the Culture Committee of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan, and founding Director General of TURKSOY, Polad Bulbuloglu.
The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, was attended by state and public figures, members of parliament, and art enthusiasts who admired Bulbuloglu’s work. The host announced that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had awarded Polad Bulbuloglu the 1st-degree “For Service to the Fatherland” medal, reading the decree.
Mikhail Shvydkoi, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Relations, also conveyed congratulations from the President, Prime Minister, and members of the Russian government.
The concert program featured Bulbuloglu’s popular compositions and Azerbaijani folk songs. Renowned Azerbaijani artists such as Samir Jafarov, director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater Yusif Eyvazov, soloists of the Moscow Bolshoi Theater Yusif Eyvazov, Elchin Azizov, Dinara Alieva, People’s Artist of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan Farrukh Zeykirov, and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Nargiz Karimova also performed at the event.
Performances of “Ave Maria” (a duet with Dinara Alieva) and “Dear Canan” by prominent pianists and People’s Artists Farhad Badalbeyli and Murad Adiguzelzadeh were met with enthusiastic applause.
The Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble (artistic director: People’s Artist Rufet Khalizade) performed folk dances such as “Long River,” “Sari Gelin,” and others.
The performers were accompanied by the Uzeyir Hajibeyli Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Murtuza Bulbul. The choreographer of the concert was Honored Artist Eteri Tseferova, and the director was Javid Imamverdiyev.
TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev also attended the event and congratulated Polad Bulbuloglu. Raev emphasized that he is an important figure in art and culture not only for Azerbaijan but for the entire Turkic world, adding that his name is inscribed in the history of the Turkic world as the founder of TURKSOY, an international organization with a mission to protect and promote the common culture and civilization of the Turkic world.
The evening opened with the artist’s song “Land of Fire Azerbaijan” and concluded with his unforgettable composition “My Land of Fires.” The audience left with unforgettable memories of this magnificent evening, which showcased the 80-year artistic journey of a composer who enriched Azerbaijani musical culture.
