The gloomy cold humidity of the Moscow winter suddenly blossomed with the bright warmth of oriental melodies and incendiary southern rhythms. One of the best concert halls of the Russian capital, Vegas City Hall, hosted almost 1,500 music lovers who gathered for a touring performance by Turkmen pop stars.
A concert of Turkmen artists in Moscow is a rare phenomenon, and therefore it is doubly desired. In the past, talented art teams from Turkmenistan used to visit Russia only as part of Days of Culture. However, the process of development of bilateral contacts in the cultural and humanitarian sphere does not stand still, and it has recently received a powerful additional impetus. At the end of last year and beginning of this year, the leadership of the two countries held many productive meetings both in Ashgabat and Moscow. The current visit by the best variety performers of Turkmenistan to the Russian capital is one of the results of the agreements reached on expansion of cultural exchange between the two partner countries. The Embassy of Turkmenistan in the Russian Federation provided all possible organizational support to holding the landmark cultural event.
Needless to say, such a unique cultural event was sold out. News about the upcoming concert came both through the official information sources and social networks. Representatives of the Turkmen diaspora of the Russian capital, Turkmen students studying in Moscow’s higher education establishment made every effort to get to a memorable concert to listen to the tunes that are dear to the heart. Representatives of the diplomatic corps of the CIS countries, who responded to the kind invitation of their Turkmen colleagues, were the guests of honor at the concert.
The Turkmen pop art on the Moscow stage was represented by soloists whose popularity in their homeland did not require any additional certificates of quality. Vocalist Azat Donmezov with his charming voice; multi-universal Serdar Haydarov with his virtuoso folk style performance; sorcerer of percussion oriental instruments Atajan Eyyubov have long won the hearts of fans in their native Turkmen homeland. Now they had to an opportunity to prove their professional reputation in front of the demanding Moscow public. Turkmen musical art was naturally quite close and understandable for most of the audience, but the high standard of the Moscow venue imposed a high responsibility.
“From the very beginning, I had no doubts that the artists on stage and the audience would instantly connect and find a common language,” Head of the Turkmen art delegation, Director of the Ashgabat Mukams Palace Kerim Ilyasov noted. I remember many successful performances by Turkmen folk music artists in many countries of the world, in front of the audiences with very different level of readiness for specific perception. And every time, the temperament and inspired spiritual openness of the artists did miracles, and the hearts of people invariably opened up to the powerful energy message coming from the stage.”
This time was no exception. The audience applauded and danced to the beat of the headlong flights of folk melodies. The hall flourished with Turkmen national flags, and time flew by to the sweet sounds of soulful songs. A flurry of applause did not let the performers go backstage. The Turkmen artists also shared the stage with Russian pop stars that accepted the invitation to become honorary guests of the festive evening.
Unfortunately, the spectacular show of exciting rhythms and fantastic emotions could not continue indefinitely. The audience left the concert venue in the hope of more memorable rendezvous with Turkmen artists and great folk music they represent.