The Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory holds a series of concerts dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Sergei Rachmaninoff

In 2023, Russia celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of composer Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff. This anniversary date was not ignored in many other countries, including France, Serbia, Hungary, Finland, Switzerland, as well as in Turkmenistan.

In Russia, volumes of the complete academic collection of Rachmaninov's works were published in honor of this event, commemorative coins were issued, the composer's name was assigned to streets, squares, parks, cultural objects and musical educational institutions. During this year, the Russian Federation will host the Rachmaninov International Piano Competition, Composers and Conductors, conferences, thematic excursions, concerts, lectures at music educational institutions and museums of musical art.

Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff was born on April 1, 1873 in a noble family. He received his conservative education in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Already during his studies, he composed a number of works, including the First Piano Concerto and the one-act opera "Aleko" to a libretto by Nemirovich-Danchenko based on Pushkin's poem "Gypsies".

Since 1900, he has been constantly performing as a pianist and conductor in Russia, Western Europe and America. Participated in the activities of the Russian Music Society and the Russian Music Publishing House. Abroad, he wrote the Fourth Piano Concerto, a Rhapsody on the theme of Paganini for Piano and Orchestra, the Third Symphony, "Symphonic Dances".

A composer, an outstanding virtuoso pianist, conductor, he became a classic during his lifetime, one of the greatest musicians of the turn of the XIX-XX centuries. His piano concertos, symphonies, piano miniatures, romances are still performed on the concert stage and have taken a worthy place in the educational and pedagogical repertoire of musical educational institutions.

In Turkmenistan, the work of the brilliant Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff is of great interest both for music lovers and for professional musicians. Topics on the study of his legacy have been introduced into the curricula of educational institutions in the subjects "Musical literature" in children's music schools and art schools, "Foreign musical literature" in music schools and "World musical culture" in higher educational institutions of Turkmenistan. Also, the composer's musical works occupy an important place in the educational and concert program in the direction of special piano for performing pianists and general piano for performing faculties.

On March 30-31, teachers of the Department of "History and Theory of Music" of Maya Kulieva TNK will participate in the International Scientific Symposium "S.V. Rachmaninoff and his Epoch", organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the State Institute of Art Studies, the Russian National Museum of Music as part of the jubilee year program.

Throughout April, the Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory holds a series of concerts "Rachmaninoff Spring".

The organizers of the Rachmaninoff Spring concerts are Stella Vladimirovna Faramazova, Senior Lecturer of the Chamber Ensemble Department, and Vladimir Sergeyevich Mkrtumov, Senior Lecturer of the Special Piano Department.

Stella Faramazova is a well-known music and public figure in Turkmenistan, a talented concertmaster and an excellent teacher, a diploma holder and laureate of many international competitions in which she participated as a soloist and as an accompanist. Recent competitions include the 2019 contest in Rome, where she performed with Aybolek Muhieva, who was awarded the Grand Prix, and the 2021 competition in Nice with violinist Jemal Agajanova, who was awarded the 2nd prize.

Stella Vladimirovna transmits her creative skills to the younger generation of musicians and collaborates with many famous soloists, including People's Artist Gulnar Nuriyeva (soprano), Honored Artists Leyli Okdirova (soprano), Bibijemal Amanova (soprano), Osman Gujimov (dutar), Amangeldi Amanov (baritone), Bahar Durdyyeva (soprano) and many others.

Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Vladimir Sergeyevich Mkrtumov is a talented performer and an excellent teacher. The musician celebrated his 50th anniversary together with the State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rasul Klychev with the performance of the Third Piano Concerto with the Orchestra of Sergei Rachmaninoff.

As Vladimir Sergeyevich recalls: "At the age of 10, at my first performance, I performed Handel's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, 40 years have passed since then. And it is a great honor for me to perform the Third Piano Concerto by Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff on my anniversary. This is one of the most difficult musical works of the composer, but it was it that brought me victory at the Nury Halmamedov International Competition in 1995."

Vladimir Mkrtumov has prepared a new concert program of Rachmaninoff's works, which includes fantasy plays, preludes, Sonata No. 2, arrangements of vocal works, etudes-paintings, etc.

He will perform his first concert on March 26 (at 13.00.) on the stage of the Dashoguz Special School of Arts named after Magtymguly Garlyev. April 7 (at 19.00.) His concert will take place in Ashgabat, in the hall of the Philharmonic Cultural Center (1st park). April 9 (at 10.00.) Mkrtumov will perform on the stage of the Special School of Arts of the Lebap region and on the same day (at 16.30.) – at the Mary Special Music School named after Elaman Hummaev.

On the birthday of the great master, on April 1 (at 18.30.), the Department of "Chamber Ensemble" will hold its concert in the Great Hall of the Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory.

The gala concert will be opened by the People's Artist Orazgul Annamuradova, in her performance the first part of the Concert No. 2 for piano and orchestra will be performed. The conductor is Ashir Ashirov. The compositions "Spring Waters", "Oh, don't be sad for me" will be performed by People's Artist Gulnara Nuriyeva, piano part - Stella Faramazova.

Stella Vladimirovna will also perform with Jemal Agajanova with the work "Vocalise", with singers Leyli Okdirova and Bahar Durdyyeva "Daisies", the duet "Waves Dozed off", with Seyran Atanyazov – "Romance for violin in D minor", Maya Gullaeva - "I fell in love with my sadness", Merdan Charyyev - "Dance gypsy girls from the opera "Aleko".

"Lilac", "They Answered" - these compositions will be performed by Bahar Durdiyeva and Vladimir Mkrtumov. Then Amangeldy Amanov and Stella Faramazova will present to the audience the works "He took everything from me", "Oh no, I pray, do not leave", and two "Etudes – paintings" - Vladimir Mkrtumov.

With romances "Child! like a flower, you are beautiful", "It's good here" will be performed by Bibijemal Amanova, 4th year student Merjen Amanova will play the piano. The duet from the opera "Aleko" will be performed by Gulnara Nuriyeva and Amangeldy Amanov, the piano part will be performed by Stella Faramazova.

"Piano Concerto No. 1. The first part" will be played by Aynur Otuzova and Jeyhun Babayev.

On April 18 (at 15.00.), a lecture-concert on the theme "Creative Portrait of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninov" will be held in the Great Hall of the Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory, teachers and students of the conservatory will perform in the program.

As Stella Faramazova notes: "We are all in love with the work of Sergei Vasilyevich Rachmaninoff. We are "fanatically" devoted to him, we grew up on the composer's music. We studied it at the college and the conservatory. And we continue to work with students, studying the most complex works of Rachmaninoff. Russian Russian music is music for all times, it is music about the Russian soul, about Russian nature, it is music that excites all generations and will always excite."

The concert cycle does not end there and will continue with other performances. Follow the posters.

Admission to all concerts is free.

Agajan Achilov