Magtymguly National Musical Drama Theater hosted a concert of the "Mukam" violin ensemble in honor of the 85th anniversary of its leader, People's Artist of Turkmenistan Harold Neumark.
The concert program was opened with the song, performed by ensemble, "Forward, forward, only forward, my native land - Turkmenistan!" to the lyrics and music of Hero – Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The percussion part was performed by Selim Mergenov.
The "Mukam" violin ensemble was also celebrating its anniversary. 40 years ago, it was opened by Harold Neumark for violin students of the Special Music Boarding School at the Turkmen National Conservatory. It is very prestigious for girls and boys to get into the ensemble, because only the best students are accepted into it. Every year the composition of the ensemble is updated: graduates of the boarding school leave it, and their places are taken by children of junior classes.
The repertoire of the "Mukam" violin ensemble includes up to 100 works by Turkmen and European composers. That evening, the musicians performed "Turkmen Dance" by Mered Annamuradov, "Waltz" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, "Saber Dance" by Aram Khachaturian, a fragment from the ballet "Raymonda" by Alexander Glazunov, "Schindler's List" by John Williams and other works.
The concert was attended by up to 30 graduates of the music boarding school from different years, who were also once musicians of the "Mukam" violin ensemble. Many of them became music teachers and famous musicians. Among them is singer Leili Okdirova, Honored Artist of Turkmenistan. She chose vocal as her profession after completing the violin class at the boarding school.
The concert ended with the soundtrack of Eugen Doga from the movie "My gentle and affectionate Beast". The musicians of the ensemble performed the magic melody of this work with great inspiration.
Harold Neumark was again on stage. He addressed the audience in the hall with words of gratitude for this wonderful evening. "A lot of work is being done in our country to ensure that the younger generation grows up healthy and has a broad intellectual outlook," he said. – "The children of our boarding school not only study music for free, but also receive a scholarship for their studies. Parents, send your children to our school, and you will never regret it"
A large flow of spectators from the audience went up to the stage to present a bouquet of flowers to the great master of his craft. It would be no exaggeration to say that Harold Neumark received a record number of bouquets that evening.
