As part of the European Union Culture Week in Turkmenistan, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ashgabat organized a gala concert featuring popular pieces of German classical music. The concert took place at the National Music and Drama Theatre named after Magtymguly.
The Klenke String Quartet and double bassist Alf Moser performed for the wide audience. The Klenke Quartet has been in existence for 30 years and includes Annegret Klenke (violin), Beate Hartmann (violin), Yvonne Uhlemann (viola) and Ruth Kaltenhäuser (cello). Over many years of successful performances, these musicians have gained recognition both in their homeland and beyond.
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The concert program included compositions by Handel, Mozart, Weber, Schumann, Strauss, Reger and Lehár. These renowned composers were united by their biographical connection to Germany. The concert host, Selbi Yomudova, provided commentary in English about each piece and its composer.
Narine Yeghiyan performed "Rejoice," an aria from Handel's oratorio "Messiah," enchanting the audience with the magic of her voice from the very first notes. This piece is traditionally performed in Germany at Christmas in almost every home.
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The gala concert featured romantic, emotional, lyrical and sentimental works of German music that are immensely popular among the German people.
Listeners received the works of German composers performed by German musicians with great interest. In response to prolonged applause from the Ashgabat audience, the guests performed two pieces not originally included in the concert program: "Liebesfreud" by Kreisler and "O mio babbino caro" by Puccini.
