The main aim of the event was to promote Azerbaijan’s rich culture and tourism potential.
On Saturday a gala concert was held in Cadogan Hall featuring the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble, Bakustic Jazz group, mugam singers Mansum Ibrahimov and Aygun Bayramova and the winner of the first mugam television competition, Elmaddin Ibrahimov. The dance ensemble, directed by Afag Melikova, performed traditional Azerbaijani dances Jengi, Injelik, Nalbaki, Igidler and Mezeli. Bakustic Jazz, led by pianist and composer Salman Gambarov, performed a synthesis of mugam and jazz with a guest appearance by saxophonist Rain Sultanov.
On Sunday London’s Orion Symphony Orchestra were under the baton of Azerbaijani conductor Yalchin Adigezalov. The orchestra performed both Azerbaijani and British music, including Azerbaijan Capriccio by Fikrat Amirov, suites from the ballets Seven Beauties and Path of Thunder by Gara Garayev, Caravan mugam symphony by Soltan Hajibayov, A Queen’s Fanfare and Crown Imperial by Walton and Vaughan Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves.
An exhibition of work by young Azerbaijani artist Kabira Aliyeva was held as part of the Cultural Weekend.
A photographic exhibition on Azerbaijan was held in the foyer of Cadogan Hall. It featured more than 100 photos showing the landscape, history, culture and traditions of Azerbaijan. Photographs of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh were also displayed.
Azerbaijani cuisine was available and traditional carpets were on display.
A book "The People the World Forgot: Visions of the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict" compiled by The European Azerbaijan Society in English was launched during the Cultural Weekend. Describing the book, TEAS Chairman Tale Heydarov said it included comprehensive information about the history and causes of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
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