The past thirty years have become a time of wasteful scattering of stones in our vast and once common expanses. How many names, traditions, schools have sunk into oblivion! The legacy is still being thoughtlessly scattered - look at the archive folders with scores discovered a few weeks ago in the Lenfilm trash heap...

However, there are people who, despite everything, collect stones. They take out Art from the dusty shelves. They return it to the people.

Special respect and low bow to those who work with the music of the former Soviet republics. With something that could have been not only forgotten, but crossed out.

I, a regular at music archives and a fan of world premieres, did not have to repeat the flattering invitation to participate in the Khalmamedov Festival twice.

Like-minded people! How beautiful!

A fabulous married couple of wonderful musicians and educators: Mamed and Daria Huseynov. Beautiful, talented people. Composer of high standard and artist of Helikon Opera, singer of unforgettable talent. Everything is in front of them; they could take care of yourself and each other with a clear conscience.

And they, with the persistence of true artists, engaged in the musical past of the Soviet school of composers. More precisely, Turkmenistan, Motherland of Mamed Huseinov. They brought up archives. Edited and published the scores.The semi- forgotten music played again.

One of the central names of Turkmen culture was brought back to the world: Nury Halmamedov. In his homeland, he is called Orpheus - such a powerful talent, such a short life. The Halmamed festival in Moscow became a symbol of the resurrection of Orpheus in our national regions and neighboring countries.

The leitmotif of the current festival is the presentation of a collection of vocal music by Nury Halmamedov, edited by Daria Guseinova. She brilliantly presented the results of her enormous work at the opening concert at the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery. A string of images of different countries and eras passed before the listeners - from Europe in the era of romanticism to Japan in the forties. And, of course, all the time the author returns to his native, folk, national. This is the immeasurable value of any master whose creativity is nourished by the life-giving energy of Mother Earth.

Together with Daria and Mamed Guseinov, the wonderful youth ensemble of the Russian Guard appeared on stage, as well as soloists: the tireless promoter of modern music, legendary violinist Leonora Dmiterko, and young talented pianist Dariy Guseinov. GITIS (State Institute of Theater Arts) graduate Yana Kolomiets

performed Halmamedov’s most famous vocal piece - Lullaby from the music for the film “The Decisive Step”. And a miracle happened: the outstanding actress Zhanna Smelyanskaya, who played Aina in that same 1966 film, and the author of the Russian translation of Lullaby, was present in the hall. The meeting of bright artists of different generations, reminiscent of the passing of a creative baton, became a special, touching mark of the concert.

I am grateful for the invitation to participate in the representative scientific and practical conference “The problem of forming national composition schools in a multicultural space.” The contribution to the organization of this event by culturologist, leading teacher of the St. Petersburg Music School named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Tatyana Solodkova, conductor, composer, educator Yulia Ponomarenko and associate professor of TNC named after. Maya Kulieva musicologist Elena Osipova is inestimable. Thanks to their efforts, it was possible to gather a significant number of eminent and young speakers with pressing issues, interesting concepts and conclusions. It was especially gratifying to hear representatives of the musicological school of Turkmenistan, who worthily continue the traditions of their predecessors.

My message was dedicated to the work of People's Artist of Russia Kirill Volkov and the genre orientation of his most famous opera “Live and Remember” based on the story by Valentin Rasputin.

Working on the competition jury in the nominations “Solo Singing”, “Vocal Ensemble”, “Chorus” brought great joy. The understanding between members of the commission, the desire to support young talents, the absence of categorical, unsubstantiated assessments, the honesty, openness and transparency of our activities - all this was truly inspiring. I would like to wholeheartedly thank my dear colleagues: Mamed Guseinov, Yulia Ponomarenko, Tatyana Solodkova, wonderful vocal teachers Natalya Sukhanova, Olga Morozova, Daria Guseinova, Irina Starodubtseva.

There were many exciting creative discoveries. Unforgettable Tamara from Rubinstein’s “The Demon” performed by Guatemalan Carla Zelada. A reverent, deep interpretation of Machavariani’s romance “Blue Color”, given by a very young contestant, student of the legendary RimKor, Eva Nutsubidze. Chinese folk songs performed by gifted singers from the Celestial Empire... These are the touches that especially stuck in my mind. Honor and praise to all young musicians and their mentors!

The creative works of the participants in the correspondence stage of the competition - competitors from Turkmenistan - inspire bright feelings and hopes. I sincerely congratulate them on their laureate and diploma places, I wish everyone hard work on further polishing their talents.

As a teacher at GITIS, I could not help but rejoice at the well-deserved success of our students. Prizes were awarded to gifted representatives of the workshops of Ivan Popovski and Yuri Konstantinovich Laptev: the first degree laureate was

Maria Mityureva, silver went to Yana Kolomiets and Ksenia Grishina, third degree laureates were awarded to Polina Kubyshkina, Elena Druzhinkina, Svetlana Seregina. The strength and depth of the actor’s interpretation of the material, combined with technical skill, are the “speciality signature” of our Alma mater, and the GITIS laureates are fully involved in it.

Diplomas of the best accompanists of the competition went to a student at Moscow State Institute of Music named after A. G. Schnittke, GITIS accompanist Maria Buyanova - a bright artist with excellent sound and technique, and the highly experienced maestro Eduard Pobedinsky, who carefully trained more than one generation of choir singers and vocalists within the walls of the Moscow Pedagogical State University.

Evgeniy Viktorovich Tselyutin from Turkmenistan was recognized for his high skill as an accompanist, as well as the great work of Elisey Babanov, the full-time pianist of both competition days and all nominations. The volume of music he presented is truly impressive.

A significant result was the final concert of the Festival in the “Knowledge of Good and Evil” hall of the Museum and Exhibition Complex of the Russian Academy of Arts. On National Unity Day we talked, played and sang about the universal unity of national cultures and traditions. The laureates, invited guests, and jury members delighted the audience with their skill and talent.

It was simply amazing how quickly the news about the festival spread throughout Moscow, how many applications there were for next year, for new nominations, new creative projects and branches. Without special advertising, without solicitation and intrusive targeting! This is the best reward for people dear to our hearts, the organizers of “Sounds of Dutar”: a feeling of fulfilling a sacred duty to Art and the People, involvement in the cultural life of our countries, and being in demand by society.

Low bow to the Collectors of Stones!

Evgeniy Kirillovich Volkov Russian conductor, choirmaster, theater teacher