On September 10, 2024, the Mugham Centre in Baku hosted a unique cinematographic and musical evening titled “All + about = Love”, organized by the Natavan Society (Czechia) with the support of Azerbaijani creative intellectuals and the international diaspora. This multifaceted event combined film, music, poetry, and choreography, exploring various aspects of love — from romantic to spiritual, from love for one’s city to love for life itself. The evening was masterfully hosted by Leyla Begim and Ulvia Akhundova, who guided the audience through a captivating program.
The evening opened with the screening of two short films — “To be or to be?” (directed by Leyla Begim, Czechia, produced by Boris Goldberg, USA) and “Beyond the wall” (directed and produced by Azer Agalarov, Germany-Spain). Both films have already gained recognition at international film festivals, and their screening in Baku became a significant cultural event.
The musical part of the program left no one indifferent. The Azerbaijan Chamber Orchestra named after Gara Garayev performed a mix of Bedřich Smetana’s “Vltava” and a segment from Garayev’s ballet “Seven Beauties.” Additionally, the premiere of the song “You and I” to the lyrics of Leyla Begim (music by Azer Agalarov, performed by Ulvia Adygezal, USA) took place, along with “Maria’s Lullaby” performed by Maria Jafarova (Czechia).
Choreographic performances added dynamism and visual splendor: dancers Alex Agalarov and Fey Anderson-Agalarov presented a video clip filmed in Germany and the United Kingdom. The evening concluded with Salman Gambarov’s performance of “Angel in the night” from the film “Beyond the wall.”
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the rock opera project “Immolatio,” composed by Elkhan Mammadov with a libretto by Leyla Begim. During the presentation, the overture and arias were performed by Ulvia Adygezal (USA) and Gasim Khalilov.
As noted by the organizers, Azer Agalarov and Leyla Begim, their goal was to create an atmosphere filled with poetic emotions and deep reflections on love. The audience that gathered that evening embraced their vision and offered a flood of warm reviews. The organization of this event was the result of four months of painstaking work, despite the distances between Spain, Czechia, Azerbaijan, and the USA. Numerous discussions, sometimes turning into “heated” debates, contributed to the emergence of new ideas and improvements to the original plans. Not only musicians and artists participated in the project’s realization, but also the leadership of the Mugham Centre, friends, relatives, and even participants from social networks. The evening was also documented by the “Beyond the wall” film team, who produced a documentary about the event.
The organizers extended their special thanks to the head of the Mugham Centre, the talented musician and honored art worker Sahib Pashazade, for his trust and support. Leyla Begim also expressed her gratitude to all participants, musicians, and her family members who inspired her throughout the preparation process.
