The concert was given to a full house: the hall was overflowing with those wishing to get acquainted with the famous ensemble. The evening of music started with an opening song ‘The Glorious Epoch’ performed by Turkmen singer Atajan Berdyev, telling the story of modern-day Turkmenistan and its unprecedented progress achieved since independence.
The Ensemble’s quarter sang a well-known Georgian song called ‘Long Life’. A positive mood and good wishes in the emotionally charged song were conveyed in a virtuosic manner through polyphony of voices.
Bakhshi Serdar Bayramov, who continued the joint concert, kept the audience enthralled throughout his performance and pleasantly surprised the guests with his distinctive signing voice.
When the compere announced ‘Suliko’, a great roar of applause broke out. This much-loved Georgian song filled the air with cantilenas and soft intonational patterns.
The evening of friendship was continued by a wedding dance performed by the Galkynysh Dance Group to rhythmic applause from the spectators, who enthusiastically welcomed their favorites.
Then, the Rustavi quarter transported the listeners to the capital of Georgia, the beautiful city of Tbilisi, with the help of the song ‘Tbiliso’. The audience was singing along with the song. Brilliantly performed by the Georgian dancers, ‘Lezginka’, a fast-paced and lively dance, delighted everyone with the diverse elements of folk choreography.
The event was topped off with Kushtdepdi, a distinctively Turkmen dance, whose emotional intensity and impact was so powerful that two members of the Rustavi Ensemble could not help by join the Turkmen dancers. There was a burst of applause for the dancers.
-The Rustavi State Academic Ensemble celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, – the ensemble’s press secretary Georgiy Beridze says in an interview. – People’s love for folk dance greatly contributes to its enviable lifespan and popularity. Since its establishment, the ensemble members have visited and performed in 80 countries of the world and have always received a warm welcome. This brings great joy and spurs creative development.
This is the first time I have been to Turkmenistan and I am mesmerized by the beauty of your wonderful capital city that abounds with trees and fountains. From now on, I will be happy to advise all my acquaintances to visit this white marble-clad gem to meet the hospitable and welcoming people of Turkmenistan. I wish as many Georgians as possible would come to Ashgabat and could experience the same feelings. I am pleasantly surprised by what I have seen here. Traditions and national clothes are cherished and carefully preserved amid pulsating rhythms of the modern city.
