In the city of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, as part of the Year of Culture of Turkmenistan in China, a concert of our country's artists was held with great success. It is customary in the artistic community to go on tour in their own country or abroad, and if the artists return home in high spirits, this means that their performances were successful and they are happy with the trip.
It was in this mood that we found one of the participants in the events in China, the chief artistic director of the National Music and Drama Theatre named after Magtymguly, Myrat Aradov, in his office and asked him to share his impressions of the creative trip.
«In the foyer of the concert hall», –says Myrat Hydyrmammedovich, –a delegation of Turkmen artists opened a photo exhibition about Turkmenistan. Chinese viewers looked with great interest at the photo documents telling about our country, about the white marble capital, about the new «smart» city of Arkadag and other attractions. The monitor showed the economic achievements of our country in many areas of activity.
Such photo and television information became a prelude to the concert of Turkmen artists, which was opened by a bright theatrical composition of the folklore and ethnographic group «Dehistan». During the performances, Chinese viewers got acquainted with the national costume, wedding rites of the Turkmen people, popular patriotic and lyrical songs of a friendly peace-loving country.
The concert program included songs to the words of the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty Hero-Arkadag «Ýaşasyn parahat durmuş» and Magtymguly Fragi «Uýat eýleýir», «Garlawaç» to the music of Veli Muhadov.
People's Artist of Turkmenistan Atajan Berdiyev impressively performed the song «Mother» in Chinese. It is noteworthy that the video for the song illustrated the globe held by mother's hands. The performance of the Turkmen vocalist caused a standing ovation in the hall.
The performance of two musicians, Myrat Ashyrov and Sarvar Sabirov, who staged a competition on folk instruments – the dutar and doyre, was a huge success. The opening credits to their performance were a still from the film «Shukur Bagshy».
The deputy governor of the People’s Government of Shaanxi Province sat next to Myrat Aradov at the concert.
«Now we will perform your music in our language», Myrat told the official through an interpreter.
…At first there was a long pause, then the tuyduk tenderly reproduced the Chinese melody, then it continued with the languid sounds of the saxophone, and ended with the soft sounds of the gyjak. This number was prepared especially for the Celestial Empire by Kakajan Hudayberdiyev.
The concert ended with the national dance «Kushdepti», which was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO.
All the participants of the concert came out to bow to the audience, among whom were vocalists Aky Yagshygeldiyeva, Munisa Hudaybergenova, Gurbangylych Nurgylyjov and others.
After the performances of Turkmen musicians and artists, Turkmenistan and China became closer and more understandable to each other.
