With the support of PASHA Bank, the "Maiden Tower" ballet returns to the stage
Azerbaijan’s first national ballet—Afrasiyab Badalbeyli’s "Maiden Tower" — is returning to the stage. The revival of the ballet will be carried out with the support of PASHA Bank and in cooperation with the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre.
To this end, a memorandum of cooperation was signed on September 7, 2026, between PASHA Bank and the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The document was signed by Javid Guliyev, Chairman of the Executive Board of PASHA Bank, and Yusif Eyvazov, Director of the Theatre.
The project aims to revive the stage life of "Maiden Tower" — a work that holds a special place in the history of Azerbaijani ballet — and to reintroduce it to contemporary audiences.
Javid Guliyev, Chairman of the Executive Board of PASHA Bank, stated:
“Over time, certain works become an integral part of a country’s cultural memory. "Maiden Tower" is one such work. Supporting the return of Azerbaijan’s first national ballet to the stage holds special significance for us. We want today’s audiences to be able to see this work—which opened a new chapter in the art of Azerbaijani ballet years ago—performed live. I believe that one of the best ways to preserve cultural heritage is to reconnect it with new generations.” Yusif Eyvazov, Director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, noted:
The "Maiden Tower" ballet holds a special place in the history of Azerbaijani music and performing arts, as it laid the foundation for Azerbaijani ballet by blending national music and dance traditions with the art of classical ballet. Its return to the stage is a significant event for us. Our goal is to present the work to the audience using the capabilities of the modern stage while preserving its historical and artistic spirit. Realizing such major projects requires strong partnerships, and we highly value the support of PASHA Bank in this initiative.”
Afrasiyab Badalbeyli’s “Maiden Tower” ballet was first staged in 1940. Regarded as Azerbaijan’s first national ballet, the work holds a special place in the history of Azerbaijani music and performing arts for its fusion of national music and dance traditions with classical ballet.
The “Maiden Tower” is the latest in a series of projects supported by PASHA Bank to preserve significant examples of Azerbaijani culture and reintroduce them to a wide audience. The bank has previously supported the restoration of the opera "Koroghlu," the compilation of Fikret Amirov's symphonic mughams, the promotion of the Azerbaijani art of carpet weaving, as well as the showcasing and promotion of national cinema.
Source of the news: https://az.trend.az/azerbaijan/culture/4221794.html
Comments