Georgia has always had a great love and sympathy for the national music of Azerbaijan. After the victory of Azerbaijan in the Patriotic War, there is a growing interest in Azerbaijani culture in Georgia. The number of friends of the culture of victorious Azerbaijan is growing in Georgia.
Azerbaijani music fascinates not only ordinary Georgians who can appreciate this art, but also their artists. Famous singer Dito Kisishvili is one of these singers. The great interest of the young singer and actor in Azerbaijani folklore also encouraged him to learn to play the saz. He also recently sang the Azerbaijani folk song "Ay bari bakh" in a duet with Georgian Azerbaijani ashiq (traditional singer) Nargila Mehdiyeva. The song, written in Azerbaijani and Georgian, has delighted music lovers in Georgia.
Report's correspondents in Georgia met with Dito Kisishvili and Nargila Mehdiyeva and talked about their cooperation and how the music project was developed.
Gift saz, from master-apprentice to duet partnership
The singer, who oftenmakes innovations in his art, said he has close ties with Azerbaijan and many friends in Baku: "I often visit Azerbaijan. I have been invited to act in various commercials and short films in Baku. About five years ago, on my birthday, my Georgian friend gave me a saz he bought in Baku. He made it a condition that I learn to play this instrument. I knew about the musical instrument, and I wanted to learn to play it."
Nargila Mehdiyava, who keeps the art of ashiqs alive in Georgia, is a teacher of the Georgian singer. Kisishvili has great respect for the Azerbaijani ashiq: "Before that, I had many Azerbaijani friends from different regions of Georgia. My family members are also in close contact with Azerbaijanis. I have been familiar with Azerbaijani folk songs since childhood. Nargila plays the instrument skillfully. Ashiq songs touch my heart. First, I learned to play the instrument myself. Then I contacted Nargila and we started classes. Ashiq Nargila and I understand each other very well. We are both of the same characters and most importantly, we are united by music. I have been learning to play the saz for three months and now I can sing three songs. But this is just the beginning. I will not be a professional ashiq. If I like the song, I can sing it in a day. However, I must admit that although I have good vocal skills, it is still difficult for me to perform mugham."
According to Nargila Mehdiyeva, Dito Kisishvili has great sympathy for saz and listens to Azerbaijani music and mugham with admiration: "I saw a great interest in Dito in saz. He is a very talented and gifted performer. So I accepted him as an apprentice. Dito is one of the 20 students I currently teach music lessons. It is difficult to learn to play saz and know the instrument's language. But at the first meeting with Dito, I felt that he would learn to play the instrument."
The student-teacher relationship united the Georgian singer and Nargila Mehdiyeva in a joint music project.
The admiration of Georgians for "Ay bari bakh"
According to Kisishvili, the song " Ay bari bakh" was very successful: "This song is also very popular and loved in Georgia. We also wrote the song in Georgian so that Georgians could understand it. As a result, a very lovely joint project was achieved. I am honored to sing the song in Azerbaijani. My friends are mostly artists. Some of them have already listened to this song, and they were amazed."
Nargila Mehdiyeva also said that the song "Ay bari bakh" was successful and perfect in a new way. According to her, the song is the 4th project implemented by the Azerbaijani ashiq with Georgian performers:
"The idea of a duet came from me. Dito welcomed my offer with great enthusiasm and interest. If there is a desire at the beginning of a work, that work is always successful. We reviewed Azerbaijani folk songs and focused on 'Ay bari bakh.' So, this song is one of the most popular Azerbaijani songs in Georgia. Some of the lyrics got translated into Georgian and we performed it in a different way."
New joint projects
The Georgian singer said he would continue to sing Azerbaijani songs: "The song 'Ay bari bakh' is, of course, the beginning. Together with Nargila Mehdiyeva, I am preparing to have a few more Azerbaijani songs written and give them to Georgian and Azerbaijani listeners. I also wish to sing solo songs, play saz and sing mugham in front of Azerbaijani listeners."
According to Kisishvili, joint music projects create a bridge of love between the Georgian and Azerbaijani peoples.
"My main goal is to deepen the relations inherited from our ancestors and to show as an example how two neighbouring, close nations value each other's culture," he said.
Nargila Mehdiyeva also intends to continue joint projects to strengthen cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia further and pass them on to future generations: "There have always been close cultural ties between the two states and their peoples. As artists, we also contribute to strengthening these ties."