The music of Johann Sebastian Bach is an endless conversation with humanity, transcending geographical and temporal boundaries. His works remain the Light from which Music begins. This universal language of the earthly and the divine has found its own special, powerful response in Ashgabat. The Maya Kulieva Turkmen National Conservatory, ever faithful to its mission, has once again opened the doors of its great hall for a commemorative cycle dedicated to the 340th anniversary of the greatest genius of all time.

An introductory address, a brief excursion into the work of this brilliant composer – and we are once again convinced: Bach is a universe where strict reason resounds like prayer, and every note carries the breath of pure eternity.

Bach is a summit to which humanity ascends again and again, hearing in his harmonies the voice of pure, undying beauty. And in confirmation of this, two movements from the First Sonata in G minor for solo violin were performed on stage by international competition laureate Aibolek Mukhieva. The Adagio plunged the audience into a profound spiritual awe, like entering a temple. And in the Fugue, expression and severity, movement and logic—all intertwined in a brilliant polyphonic dialogue.

The Prelude and Fugue in B minor from Volume 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier (The Well-Tempered Clavier), convincingly performed by international competition laureate Ainur Otuzova, is a rigorous, focused finale, where the movement of darkness gradually reveals the light found after a long journey.

The soft, ethereal voice of Leyli Okdirova, Honored Artist of Turkmenistan, rose like a ray of light to the heavens in the tender, transparent aria "Magnificat," yet filled with inner strength and grace. And then, in a single, joyful burst, two voices, like two loving hearts, striving forward with hope and trust, merged – Bakhar Durdyeva and Leyli Okdirova in a duet from Cantata No. 78.

The majestic, soulful melody of "Arioso" for trombone, performed by international competition laureate Dovran Gylydzhov, sounded like a human voice singing a prayer, solemn and deeply spiritual.

Bakhar Durdyeva's warm, lyrical voice, bringing joy and peace to the Alto Aria from the "Christmas Oratorio," created a sense of calm, serene celebration, inner light, and spiritual harmony, like the quiet whisper of Christmas. And, of course, "Ave Maria," filled with radiant, divine feelings, made everyone feel even more deeply the reverent beauty and grace of prayer.

People's Artist of Turkmenistan Gulnar Nuryeva sang the aria from the cantata "The Soul Rejoices" with a smile from her soul, filling us with inner joy and a sense of festive jubilation. And Moma's aria shone with sparkling humor and mocking playfulness.

The Piano Concerto in D minor, performed by international competition laureate Jeyran Ismailova and a string orchestra under the direction of artistic director and conductor Takhir Atayev, was emotionally dramatic, creating a sense of struggle and triumph, human passion and inspiration.

The concert concluded brilliantly with the Concerto for Two Violins in D minor. Soloists Seyran Ataniyazov and Leyli Salikhova, winners of international competitions, masterfully conducted a lively, vibrant dialogue, where every sound shone with the harmony, joy, and grandeur of Bach's genius.

With this brilliant finale, the performers not only concluded the concert program but also confirmed the conservatory's lofty mission—to serve as a temple for great music. Deep gratitude goes out to all members of the creative ensemble, and above all to the inspiration and organizer of this remarkable anniversary series, Associate Professor Stella Faramazova, whose energy and selfless devotion to Bach's music gave the audience a vital and necessary experience of spiritual contact with Eternity.

A vibrant, engaging program, wonderfully sensitive performers, and, most importantly, grateful listeners who understand and love Bach's music, for it contains the entire philosophy of the Universe: intelligent yet understandable; Perfect, yet alive; strict, yet warm; eternal, yet always new! Bach's music is humanity's endless interlocutor; it is a temple where every note resounds like truth revealed to man from above!

Svetlana KIM