As part of the 140th anniversary celebrations of the birth of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the famous operetta “O olmasın, bu olsun” (“If Not That One, Then This One”) was staged in Toronto, Canada. The performance, supported by the State Committee on Work with Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan and organized by the “Tabriz” Azerbaijani Music and Dance Ensemble, was presented in a modern style. An audience of more than 300 spectators, including members of the Azerbaijani community and representatives of various nationalities participated at the premiere of the play.

The colorful national costumes, professional performances by the ensemble’s vocalists, dancers, and musicians, and the captivating vocals were met with enthusiastic applause.

The idea of presenting the famous operetta "Arshin Mal Alan" (“The Cloth Peddler”) written by great composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, the founder of professional Azerbaijani music and national opera, for the first time in the city of Toronto, belongs to Shervin Shadpour, one of the co-founders of the Tabriz Azerbaijani Music and Dance Ensemble. In addition to leading the project, he also undertook the roles of music director and stage director.

The roles in the operetta were performed by Rovshan Taghioghlu (Meshadi Ibad), Honored Artist Hasan Anami (Sarvar), Shahr Sharifian (Gulnaz), Mohammad Peyghambari (Rustam bey), Nasir Gozarchiyamin (Khambal), Behzad Bolandi (Rza bey), Vahid Attari (Hasangulu bey), Mohammad Kasbi (Qochu Asgar), Saeed Shirazi (Meshadi Ghazanfar), Parvin Razi (Sanam), Javid Ismiyev (Hasan bey).

The staging of the operetta “If Not That One, Then This One” in Toronto represents not only a cultural achievement of the Azerbaijani diaspora but also showcases the talent and organizational skills of Azerbaijanis living in Canada.