Verdi Gala. Yusif Eyvazov

On May 22, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory hosted the festive gala concert “Verdi Gala”, dedicated to the 210th anniversary of the birth of the great Italian composer. Renowned tenor Yusif Eyvazov, joined by special guests Daria Rybak (soprano) and Mahir Tagizade (baritone), performed famous arias from Giuseppe Verdi’s greatest operas, including Aida, Il trovatore, Don Carlo, La forza del destino, Un ballo in maschera and others. The concert was accompanied by the Festival Orchestra, conducted by one of Russia’s most prominent young conductors, Denis Vlasenko.

Giuseppe Verdi was not only a genius of opera, but also a true record-breaker among composers. Every evening, at least one of his operas is performed somewhere in the world, and each has become an international hit. By expressing the defining qualities of the Italian character in his music — intense emotion, uncompromising passion, vividness, generosity and charm — he transformed opera into a truly popular art form. His expressive melodies are universally familiar, and almost any of them can be recognized from the very first notes. Verdi enjoyed widespread admiration during his lifetime and remains an iconic figure in the world of music. “The audience in the theater forgives everything except boredom,” he repeatedly said, and he produced masterpiece after masterpiece with remarkable ease. On October 10, 2023, the world celebrated the 210th anniversary of the great composer’s birth, and this festive concert at the Moscow Conservatory served as a wonderful reminder of how Verdi’s music forever enriched the world of opera.

The iconic arias were performed by internationally acclaimed opera star Yusif Eyvazov, joined by special guests Daria Rybak and Mahir Tagizade. Yusif Eyvazov is a People’s Artist of Azerbaijan (2018) and Director of the Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater (since 2023).