This year, the «Sounds of Dutar» festival lasted for a whole year in connection with the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Fragi. This event set the tone for the theme of numerous events - competitions and concerts that took place throughout the year with the participation of both Turkmen and Russian performers.
The festival's organizing committee has developed an extensive program aimed at familiarising residents of the Russian Federation with the poetic and philosophical legacy of Magtymguly Fragi. On the 7th of April, the concert «The Fount of Wisdom Magtymguly Fragi» was held at the museum and exhibition complex of the Russian Academy of Arts, which opened a series of celebrations in honour of the poet's anniversary in Moscow. On the 21st of August, the concert «He Truly Became the Mouth of Turkmenistan» was held at the Rachmaninov Hall of the Moscow State Conservatory named after P.I. Tchaikovsky.
The festival also prepared many unique competitions, including the literary competition of reciters «Universe of the Word», the competition of illustrations to the poems of Magtymguly «Reflection», the competition of composers «Musical works based on the poems of Magtymguly Fragi», the competition of projects «Seeds of Wisdom: Lessons of Great Minds», which attracted the attention of the creative community. The program of the final part of the festival also includes several events. On the 27th of October, instead of the traditional opening concert, competitive auditions of musicians of various specialties for the best performance of academic music based on ethnocultural traditions, as well as participants in the literary competition of reciters «Universe of the Word» will be held.
An international scientific and practical conference «Magtymguly and his role in world culture» dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and philosopher is scheduled for 28th of October. Scientists and musicologists from Turkmenistan and Russia will take part in the conference. On the 3rd November, a gala concert and award ceremony for competition winners will be held at the museum and exhibition complex of the Russian Academy of Arts. And from 16th of November to 16th of December, an exhibition of winners of the Oriental poetry illustration competition «Reflection» dedicated to the 300th anniversary of Magtymguly Fragi's birth will be held at the Centre for Eastern Literature of the Russian State Library.
The International Music Festival «Sounds of Dutar» named after Nury Halmammedov is considered a landmark event in the cultural life of Moscow, uniting creative youth and outstanding cultural figures from all over the world. Its uniqueness lies in the desire to popularise academic music based on ethnocultural traditions. The festival aims to address the most important issues of cultural policy and promotes public diplomacy, strengthening cooperation between peoples.
