By Vugar Imanov
With great success, the concert “Turquoise: A Musical Mosaic” took place at the Weill Recital Hall of New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. The event was dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli and celebrated the rich musical heritage of the Turkic world, as reported to Trend Life by renowned musician Nargiz Aliyarova.
The concert was organized with the support of the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora of Azerbaijan and attracted significant attention from diplomatic circles. Among those in attendance were the heads and representatives of the Permanent Missions to the UN from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, and Kazakhstan—underscoring the international importance of the cultural event.
On stage performed distinguished pianist, professor, and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, Dr. Nargiz Aliyarova, president of the National Music & Global Culture Society (NMGCS), together with acclaimed violinist Karen Bentley Pollick. The duo performed works by composers including Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Gara Garayev, Farhad Badalbeyli, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, Lala Jafarova (Azerbaijan), Nury Halmammedov (Turkmenistan), Dilorom Amanullaeva (Uzbekistan), Nurlan Moldobasanov (Kyrgyzstan), Arya Turkamburi (Iran), and Fazıl Say (Turkey). The Kazakh folk song “Yapyray” was a special favorite among the audience.
The hall was filled to capacity, and each performance was met with enthusiastic applause. At the close of the concert, Professor Aliyarova expressed her deep gratitude to the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora for its support.
The event served as another example of NMGCS’s cultural mission—to unite different cultures through music. Many of the evening’s pieces were performed for the first time in the United States.
Pianist, professor, and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Nargiz Aliyarova holds a special place on the international stage thanks to her virtuosity and her contributions to musical diplomacy. Beginning her career at the age of nine, she has since performed in over 50 cities worldwide, covering a repertoire that ranges from Baroque to contemporary academic music.
Her achievements include debuts at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center (2018), Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall – 2022, Stern Auditorium – 2022), and the Kennedy Center (2023). In 2008, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and won the Pietro Argento International Competition in Italy. In 2010, the Government of Poland honored her with a Diploma of Merit for promoting Chopin’s works.
Her discography includes five albums, three released by the renowned Belgian label Etcetera Records. Alongside performing, Aliyarova is an active educator and scholar, teaching at the Baku Music Academy and authoring over 20 academic papers and several books. She is also the founder and president of the National Music & Global Culture Society (NMGCS), which organizes international composition competitions inspired by the musical heritage of Azerbaijan and the Turkic world to strengthen cultural dialogue and promote national music globally.
American violinist Karen Bentley Pollick is celebrated for her versatile career spanning classical and contemporary repertoires. Her playing is marked by depth, passion, and a drive to expand the violin’s expressive possibilities.
Born in Palo Alto, California, she studied under Camilla Wicks in San Francisco and later at Indiana University with Yuval Yaron, Josef Gingold, and Rostislav Dubinsky, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Pollick has gained acclaim as a soloist, for her participation in world premieres, and for her experimental projects using electronics and multimedia.
She has performed at international festivals and major concert venues across Europe and the United States, recorded numerous albums on her own label Ariel Ventures, and is a committed educator promoting cultural exchange through innovative programs.
Photos: Personal archive
of Nargiz Aliyarova
This was translated
from Russian to English.