This outgoing year was especially rich in significant dates, including anniversaries. And it so happened that in 2024 we celebrate the 220th anniversary of Mikhail Glinka, the 185th anniversary of Modest Mussorgsky and the 180th anniversary of Rimsky-Korsakov. These three heroes of Russian music left a bright mark on the world musical culture. More than one generation of music lovers grew up on their work.

In honor of the anniversaries, the Turkmen National Conservatory named after Maya Kulieva held a concert, organized by the teachers of the chamber ensemble department. Among them is the favorite of the Ashgabat public, pianist, diploma winner of international competitions Stella Faramazova with her team.

The chamber ensemble department is perhaps one of the most active in terms of performances. And if, for example, cosmonauts are usually counted by the days spent in orbit, then musicians are counted by the hours worked on stage. And in this, Stella Vladimirovna and her colleagues have no equal. One of the musicians even joked: "They spend their entire lives on stage, occasionally coming down from there to see their loved ones and relatives."

The concert of Russian music included both instrumental and vocal works that have entered the golden fund of world culture. It was attended by outstanding representatives of the musical elite of our country. And Stella Faramazova was at the piano the entire evening.

The concert opened with the aria of Snegurochka from the opera of the same name by Rimsky-Korsakov, performed by the Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Leyli Okdirova. Her performance continued with the romance "The Nightingale Captivated by the Rose" by Rimsky-Korsakov, who is known primarily as an opera composer. Leyli also performed his romance "The Flying Crest of Clouds Thinning Out".

The concert continued with the performance of the Altyn Asyr award winner Begench Moshiev. In his interpretation, the guests listened to the romances "Tell me why", "The fire of desire burns in the blood". Then the concert also featured the immortal "Lark" by Glinka in a duet performance by Leyli Okdirova and Begench Moshiev. There was another duet that evening in the person of Begench Moshiev and Bakhar Durdyeva. They presented the guests with Glinka's romance "Do not tempt me unnecessarily".

The instrumental performance of the winner of international competitions, violinist Jemal AgaJanova added new colors to the atmosphere of the evening. Glinka's "Leaf from an Album" in her performance brought nostalgic notes and thoughts about the distant past, when all emotions were transmitted through living, breathing art, through sounds, colors, poems, and not through electronic devices, gadgets and applications.

Jemal was replaced on stage by flutist Sokhbet Ergeshov, who performed the musical interlude "Flight of the Bumblebee" by Rimsky-Korsakov from the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan". This composition is included in the Guinness Book of Records for the frequency of performance, and there is probably no person who has not heard it. Taking on a work that is on everyone's lips requires great courage and performing skills. And Sokhbet succeeded in this one hundred percent!

The musical evening continued with the appearance of the winner of the Altyn Asyr award Bakhar Durdyeva. She performed Rimsky-Korsakov's romances "Not the Wind, Blowing from Above" and "I Remember a Wonderful Moment" by Mikhail Glinka. Warmth and light sadness emanated from the wonderful melodies and lines from the poems that we all learned at school. Bakhar managed to convey all the charm and beauty of these compositions.

Then the stage was filled with the sounds of Mussorgsky's immortal creation "Pictures at an Exhibition". Pianist, laureate of international competitions Merjen Amanova performed two fragments from this cycle - "Walk" and "Limoges Market". The history of the birth of "pictures" is associated with the name of the artist and architect Viktor Hartman. Thanks to his friendship with the composer, the world learned that different types of art are internally connected and inevitably influence each other.

Another spectacular instrumental number of the evening was Glinka's "Pathetic Trio". The first part of this wonderful work was performed by Bayram Dolyev (clarinet), Murad Annamuradov (bassoon) and Stella Faramazova. The musicians demonstrated amazing teamwork and unity. Each of them complemented and at the same time emphasized the individuality of the other.

The amazing aria of the Swan Princess from the opera "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" filled the stage with magical sounds. This work, interpreted by Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Aina Seyitkulieva, sounded new, fresh and bright. Aina also performed the romance "The Song of the Lark Is Louder".

The "Arabian Dance" from the suite "Scheherazade" by Rimsky-Korsakov was remembered by everyone with its oriental delicate whimsical melodies. It was played by the laureate of international competitions Aybolek Mukhieva. The violin-Scheherazade in the hands of Aybolek told a fascinating tale, its sounds beckoned and enchanted. Aybolek Mukhieva's second number was the sad romance "Separation" by Mikhail Glinka.

Among the stars of the evening was People's Artist of Turkmenistan Gulnar Nuriyeva. She presented to the audience "Gopak" from the opera "Gaidamaky" and "Dumka Parasi" from the opera "Sorochinskaya Yarmarka" by Mussorgsky. Gulnar's fiery performance brought smiles to the guests' faces. That's what it means to be a Master with a capital letter!

The concert ended with a performance by the laureate of the "Altyn Asyr" award Arzygul Gylydzheva. She performed the romance "About what in the quiet of the night" and the lullaby of Volkhova from the opera "Sadko" by Rimsky-Korsakov.

The immersion into the world of Russian music was over, but no one was in a hurry to leave, the auditorium was filled with repeated cries of "Bravo!" The audience came up to the stage and thanked the artists. And someone even managed to compose poems and present them to the musicians.

Mivegozel SAPARMYRADOVA