Artists of Turkmenistan were awarded letters of thanks of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Ashgabat, June 8, 2021 – Today on the stage of the National Music and Drama Theater named after Makhtumkuli, a solemn ceremony of awarding state figures of art of Turkmenistan with letters of thanks for their contribution to the celebration of the 175^th anniversary of the great Kazakh writer, poet, thinker Abai Kunanbayev in 2020 was held. In honor of the 175^th anniversary of Abai, the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan under the direction of artistic director Rassul Klychev performed works from the opera "Abai" by Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi. To the accompaniment of the orchestra, the famous Turkmen tenor Nury Nuryev sang Aydar's aria from the opera "Abai" – "Ayttym Salem, Kalamkas", and the opera singer, soprano Leyli Okdirova – the song "Karlygash".

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan Yerkebulan Sapiyev, Deputy Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan Nursakhet Shirimov, honored art workers of Turkmenistan, teachers and students of the Turkmen National Conservatory and Music College.

A letter of gratitude on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Kassym-Zhomart Kemelevich Tokayev, was presented to the Chief Conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan Rassul Klychev. Also, letters of thanks on behalf of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aktoty Raimkulova were presented to R.Klychev, as well as to the famous singers of Turkmenistan N.Nuryev and L.Okdirova.

In his congratulatory speech, Ambassador Y.Sapiyev spoke about the influence of the great Abai's work on the culture and literature of the Kazakh people.

Last year, at the initiative of Kazakhstan, the anniversary of the outstanding Kazakh poet was celebrated at the global level – at the headquarters of the international organization UNESCO and in a number of foreign countries.

"It is very gratifying that brotherly Turkmenistan did not stand aside and took an active part in the celebration of this significant date for Kazakhstan", - Y.Sapiyev noted.

After the solemn ceremony, the orchestra again delighted the audience with works from the opera "Abai", as well as several famous works of Turkmen composers.