Ashgabat to celebrate the anniversary of American composer Leonard Bernstein
On December 23, the National Music and Drama Theater named after Makhtumkuli will host the concert to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, American composer and famous popularizer of academic music.
Invited percussionist Bonnie Whiting, conductor Michael Levanski and others invited by the American Voices Association, will attend the event, organized by the Ministry of Culture and the US Embassy in Turkmenistan. The State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan and the students of the Specialized Music Boarding School will perform at the concert also.
The musicians will perform works by the outstanding composer and conductor, whose work includes pieces for symphonic and orchestral music, ballet, film and theatre music, choral works, opera, chamber music and pieces for the piano.
The activity of the American Voices Association is aimed at ensuring intercultural exchange via holding concerts, lectures and master classes in countries around the world. It implements various programs aimed at promoting American music abroad.
For Bonnie Whiting and Michael Levanski, this visit to Turkmenistan is not the first. Earlier, they performed for the Ashgabat audience at the concert dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkmenistan and the United States.
