Azerbaijan is a hidden gem of Europe’s classical repertoire and the confluence of Eastern and Western traditions, and world-renowned cellist and conductor Dmitry Yablonsky says the confluence of cultures that make up Azerbaijan is most evident in its rich tradition of classical music. This tradition continues to this day with the Gabala International Music Festival, which saw its tenth edition in 2018. In his article for Rhinegold’s Classical Musicmagazine, Yablonsky reflects on how a new generation of cultural entrepreneurs are putting Azerbaijan on the musical map, including Tale Heydarov, who supported Yablonsky’s recent recordings of the Seven Beauties Ballet and Path of Thunder suites by Baku-born composer Gara Garayev.