The capital’s theater scene lit up as the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theatre hosted the premiere of the iconic Broadway musical “Chicago”, directed by Aziz Azizov, as part of the Baku Jazz Festival 2025.
The star-studded local cast featured Diana Hajiyeva as Roxie Hart, Dilyara Kazimova as Velma Kelly, Orkhan Agayev as Billy Flynn, and Ulviyya Rahimova as Mama Morton, among others.
The much-anticipated show, tailored especially for the festival’s anniversary edition, sold out in advance – a testament to the growing appetite for large-scale musical theater in Baku.
The performance combined 1920s gangster glamour with a distinctive Baku flair – bold costumes, inventive set design, and striking black-white-red tones evoking a smoky cabaret atmosphere. Jazz rhythms, burlesque interludes, and ensemble choreography created a lively fusion of eras, leaving the audience thrilled.
The Baku Jazz Festival 2025, running from October 24 to 31, brings together world-class jazz musicians for a week of concerts, jam sessions, film screenings, exhibitions, and masterclasses.
This year’s opening night – anchored by “Chicago” – set a high artistic tone, blending the energy of live jazz with the theatrical pulse of Broadway.
