This year, the world community celebrates the 340th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach, a brilliant German composer of the Baroque epoch. Musicologists believe that all European music began with Bach.
And not because today we celebrate 340 years since his birth – Gluck and Vivaldi lived earlier – but because music of Bach is cosmic, eternal. The word «Bach» means «stream» in German. But as Beethoven said of the composer: «Bach is not a stream, Bach is an ocean».
The Chamber ensemble department organised the anniversary concert at the Turkmen national conservatory named after Maya Kulyyeva.
The concert program opened with international competition laureate Aybolek Muhyyeva, who delivered a moving violin performance of «Adagio and fugue» of Bach.
One of the memorable numbers of concert was the vocal duet for two sopranos from Cantata 78. It was brilliantly performed by honoured artist of Turkmenistan Leyli Okdirova and «Türkmeniň Altyn Asyry» award laureate Bahar Durdyyeva. The duet featured a single melody repeated in different voices, creating a dialogue-like effect.
The trombone, played by Dovran Gylyjov, became an unusual musical instrument for the performance of Arioso of Bach.
The aria from Cantata 68, «The soul rejoices» performed by People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Gulnar Nuryyeva, lifted the spirits of listeners.
Then the stage of the large hall of the conservatory was given over to the musicians of orchestra of Tahyr Atayev. International competition laureate Jeyran Ismailova performed the solo in the piano concerto.
Bahar Durdyyeva and the orchestra performed «Ave Maria» of Bach-Gounod with divine precision. The evening, dedicated to Bach, concluded with the Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra, featuring international competition laureate Seyran Atanyyazov and Leyli Salyhova as soloists.
The accompanist of the evening was Stella Faramazova, a winner of international competitions. The musical evening left a lasting impression on classical music lovers.
