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Mikhail Gusman, first deputy general director of ITAR-TASS:
Today in Moscow in the Bolshoi Theatre,
the premier of the ballet "Seven Beauties" by the famous Azeri musician Kara Karayev will take place.
Abulfaz Garayev, the minister of culture of Azerbaijan:
It is paradoxical that Kara Karayev was respected by the Soviet authorities.
He was a hero of Socialist Labour, a prize-winner of the Lenin Fund,
an academician, deputy of the Supreme Soviet and People's Artist of the USSR,
but the Bolshoi Theatre didn't stage his ballets.
And only after the dissolution of the Soviet Union did the music of Karayev return to the Bolshoi Theatre.
The first ballet was staged in 1952.
Dmitry Shostakovich said after the premiere that the ballet was good, but the music was genius.
Since that time the ballet has been staged in Azerbaijan and other countries of the world.
This variation is a new one.
It is a joint work between Russian musicians and the National Azeri Opera and Ballet Theatre.
The choreographer of the ballet is Vasily Medvedev.
The lead role is performed by one of the best ballet dancers of the Bolshoi Theatre,
Mikhail Labukhchin.
The lead female role is danced by the Peoples Artist of Azerbaijan, Kamila Guseinova.
The conductor of the orchestra is the Azeri conductor Aishat Bagirov.
As you can see, traditions continue to live.
They are reflected in a new form.
I want to thank the administration of the Bolshoi Theatre,
the authorities of the ministry of culture and all our friends and supporters.
Mikhail Shvydkoi, special representative of the president of the Russian Federation on international cultural cooperation:
I must say something about the cooperation of Karayev and the Russian theatre.
"Seven Beauties" will be staged at the Bolshoi Theatre for the first time,
but the ballet used to be performed on the stage of the Leningrad Mikhailovsky Theatre.
Karayev was a lucky man.
He created a lot for drama theatre.
Few people remember that the music for the famous play "Optimistic Tragedy"
by Tovstanogov of 1956 was written by Karayev.
He also wrote music for the films "Hamlet", "Don Quixote" and "Carmen".
That is why the ballet "Seven Beauties" isn't being staged by accident.
It is happening as a logical continuation of the great artist's life.
Azerbaijan is one of the most important partners of Russia in the sphere of humanitarian cooperation.
The humanitarian forum held last year in Baku was significant for our countries.
So this year we will carry out the first international humanitarian forum in Baku under two presidents.
This is not only our of friendship, but also a necessity for our nations.
Polad Bul Bul Ogly, extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia:
I am very glad that one of the best works of my teacher will be presented on the main stage of Russia.
It is significant, because when we were one country it was natural
to stage ballets by Azeri composers in Russian cities,
however, today we are living in different countries.
It is difficult to bring 130 people and theatrical scenery to another country.
As a musician, I want to say that Karayev's music is national Azeri music
combined with European traditions.
I believe that for many centuries his music will be popular in Russia and all over the world.