'Leyli and Majnun' was premiered in Baku on January 25, 1908 and thereby became the first opera in the East. The story was written on the bases of 16th century poetical adaptation by the great Azerbaijani poet and philosopher Muhammad Fizuli of the beautiful story of two lovers Leyli and Majnun -- Romeo and Juliet of the East. The composer Uzeir Hajibeyov used classical samples of folk creativity -- mugams and traditional opera forms -- choir, ballet, duets and mass scenes. Azerbaijani Mugam was proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003. Thus, "Leyli and Majnun" opera became a founder of the unique genre in the world musical culture, which synthesizes Oriental and European musical forms, resembling a dialogue of two musical cultures of the East and the West. This opera is one of the most favourite musical compositions of Azerbaijani audience. Since the premiere in 1908 it has been staged 20.000 times in Azerbaijani State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and also in the theatres of foreign countries: Russian Federation, Ukraine, Islamic Republic of Iran, Turkey, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. More information: http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=42354&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html