On January 16, the first concert of the “Broadway and Beyond” series took place in Ashgabat with the participation of famous American performers Kate Bass, Richard Steigner and Aaron Young.
This is the second visit of foreign artists to Turkmenistan. This time, performances will be held in the capital, also in other cities of the country, such as Turkmenbashi, Balkanabad and Dashoguz.
Thanks to the cooperation of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan with the U.S. Department of State, artists have the opportunity not only to perform on stage, but also to share professional experience with colleagues.
On the eve of the tour, the American performers gave an interview in which they shared their impressions of the cultural heritage of the Turkmen people.
Aaron Yang noted that their cooperation with their Turkmen colleagues has become truly productive. If for the first time he was just getting acquainted with the poetry of the great Makhtumkuli Fragi and national music, now he has creative ideas that were realized during collaboration with the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan and promising vocalist Dovran Shammiev.
"We are very happy to visit Turkmenistan again," Kate Bass shared her emotions. "It gave us a chance to work on Makhtumkuli's poem, which we turned into a song called "I want to feel the Wind." There was also a place for bold experiments that could be heard at our concerts.
Musician and professional beatboxer Richard Steiner added:
– I was struck by the beauty of the Turkmen national music. I would especially like to express my gratitude to the rector of the Turkmen National Conservatory for organizing our visit to this musical forge of talents. We had the opportunity to enjoy performing on traditional Turkmen instruments.
When we asked which musical instrument made the greatest impression on them, the artists unanimously answered: "Dutar." This ancient instrument became a real godsend for the performers, and they decided to prepare an original number combining modern musical trends with national melodies.
Aaron Yang shared his expectations about the upcoming trip to the Turkmenbashi city:
– I like to be surprised by new places. And since we are going to the Caspian Sea, we have already been told where to eat seafood. Tour with a large group of musicians, including the choir, adds special pleasure.
The interview was attended by the US Ambassador to Turkmenistan Elizabeth Rood, who noted:
– This year we will hold a number of events under the concept “International Year of Peace and Trust”. Culture, including music, helps build a bridge of trust between different peoples. All our initiatives are aimed at promoting dialogue about peace.
In addition, Ms. Rood added that projects within the framework of the Ambassador's Fund for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage will continue. At the moment, the program has already supported 30 projects in Turkmenistan, and a competition for the next project is underway.
