The "Sounds of the Dutar" Anniversary Festival in Moscow Unites Music, Science, and Painting
The 10th Moscow International Arts Festival "Sounds of the Dutar," named after Nury Halmamedov, is now entering its final stage. This anniversary forum has become more than just a series of celebratory concerts; it has served as a vibrant space for cultural dialogue—a unique academic and educational platform where the shared spiritual language of Russia and Turkmenistan is revealed in all its richness.
The musical odyssey of this tenth season began back in February with a concert titled "Music of the Universe and Melody of the Soul," held at the A. N. Scriabin Memorial Museum. That evening built a profound artistic bridge between the worlds of Alexander Scriabin and Nury Halmamedov—two geniuses whose work is united by a lyrical philosophy and a commitment to synthesizing national roots with classical harmony.
Throughout the year, the festival has expanded its horizons, combining ethno-cultural programming with publishing initiatives. A major milestone was the release of sheet music collections—most notably, works for the violin by Nury Halmammedov, edited by the distinguished performer and Honored Artist of Russia, Leonora Dmiterko (1944–2026). This project has helped preserve and revitalize the composer’s invaluable legacy for a new generation of musicians.
The project’s culmination in October and November brings together scholarship, performance, and the visual arts. On October 26, the historic Pashkov House—part of the Russian State Library—will host an international conference and concert titled "Art within the Cultural Commonwealth of Peoples," organized in collaboration with the Maya Kuliyeva Turkmen National Conservatory. The event will be followed by the publication of a scholarly volume featuring dozens of papers by musicologists from both nations. These studies focus on the works of composers being celebrated in 2026—Redzhep Allayarov, Veli Mukhatov, Chary Nurymov, and Bayramdurdy Khudaynazarov—as well as Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Nikolai Myaskovsky.
The competition phase will take place on October 28 at the Georgy Garanyan Children’s Music School, where musicians will present their interpretations of virtuosic classical works rooted in ethnocultural motifs. The program also included the “Voices of Russia and Its Friends” International Recitation Contest, highlighting the inseparable bond between music and the spoken word.
The final flourish will occur on November 1 at the Zurab Tsereteli Art Gallery with the opening of an art exhibition titled “Akhal-Tekes: Winged Horses,” featuring works by artists from Turkmenistan and Russia, followed by a gala concert honoring the laureates.
Over the years, the festival has brought together more than 1,500 participants from 20 countries, establishing itself as a respected institution of public diplomacy. The anniversary forum has received official greetings from prominent figures in the fields of science, the arts, and politics.
Anatoly Torkunov, Rector of MGIMO (the Moscow State Institute of International Relations), described the festival as a "living laboratory for the synthesis of the arts," while Alexander Solovyov, Rector of the V. S. Popov Academy of Choral Art, highlighted its role in fostering harmony and preserving traditions. Vasily Tsereteli, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, underscored the fact that the project received early support from Zurab Tsereteli (1934–2025)—a People’s Artist of the USSR and the Russian Federation, President of the Russian Academy of Arts, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador—and noted the contribution of "Sounds of the Dutar" to bringing different nations closer together during the Year of Unity of Peoples.
Warm words of encouragement for the participants were also shared by Ilya Ilyin, Artistic Director of Helikon-Opera; Leonid Slutsky, Chairman of the Board of the International Public Foundation "Russian Peace Foundation"; and Charymurat Yazmuradov, Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan. In his address to the participants, the festival’s art director, Mamed Guseynov, emphasized: "In every performance, there is a personal story, hard work, inspiration, and a profound connection to the heritage of your respective peoples."
