Karayev: Seven Beauties Suite, Leyla and Mejnuin, Don Quixote & Lullaby from "The Path of Thunder"

Lyrical Kara Karayev was the most important Azerbaijani composer of the last century and a major figure in his country’s musical life. He also took on a curatorial role of Azerbaijan’s folk music, often weaving it into his own music. Like his near contemporary Aram Khachaturian, his music is rich in melody, rhythmically exciting, and scored with a striking ear for orchestral color. Kirill Karabits has been an admirer since his student days, and his performances of these two ballets, a film music suite, and tone poem demonstrate a real passion for this lyrical and charmingly exotic music.