The Land of Fire takes Eurovision | Eurovision Talents

Since ancient times, we have been passing over the flame of love in our hearts to our and following generations. It was the flame warming up our souls with purity, serenity and peace; with shining sun and sparkling stars we succeeded to transform it into mysterious symbols and patterns which became an integral part of our culture.

Numerous archaeological finds and architectural landmarks, ancient rock carvings, inscriptions and manuscripts together with pieces of music second to none, magnificent mugham compositions among them, the mystery of carpet designs conveying the message of centuries as well as the works of art currently cherished in the world’s leading museums are just a few contributions of the Land of Fire to the treasury of the world’s culture. Azerbaijan input to intangible cultural heritage includes the first secular theatre, opera, ballet, symphony and jazz in the Muslim world augmented by the first Academy of Sciences.

For years and centuries, our Land has been a home to various languages, faiths, beliefs, cultures and traditions. This historic legacy, diversity of cultures and civilizations, the message of the past is felt by anyone visiting Azerbaijan today.

The amazing music of the Land of Fire passing over the call of the generations gone, with its beauty and variety of genre has the millennia-old history of its own. National dance, folk art and legacy of ashygs, the local minstrels, are a part and parcel of this heritage. Dancing scenery carved into the rocks of the Gobustan State History and Art Reserve, included in 2007 in UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List, is another clear indication of the deep dancing traditions of this land. Mugham, one of the founding elements of the local musical tradition together with the art of ashygs were included into the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO in 2003 and 2009 respectively.

The dialogue promoting mutual respect and sensitivity is the key tool in addressing the problems and conflicts that tear the world apart. Located in-between the Orient and Occident, Azerbaijan is perfectly equipped to contribute to this dialogue of civilizations. The role of music in connecting people together through commonly shared values is second to none indeed. Azerbaijan, with its recent history of hosting a number of highly-esteemed international musical events, is an excellent venue for this. Each event of this kind is another step towards bringing the nations together and making the world a better place to live. Today, the power of music brings us to this Land again and again for another great event – Eurovision Song Contest 2012. And we are pleased to be there for you.

Based on data from eurovision.az