Concert dedicated to the 145th anniversary of Ashgabat held in Moscow with the participation of the World Peoples Assembly

On August 7, 2026, at the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia in Moscow hosted an evening of musical and cultural dialogue dedicated to the 145th anniversary of Ashgabat. The central event of the evening was a piano concert by Vladimir Mkrtumov, a Honored Artist of Turkmenistan and senior lecturer at the Turkmen National Conservatory.

The event was organized by the World Peoples Assembly and the Turkmen Culture Society and supported by the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia.

Celebration of Turkmen culture became a logical continuation of the joint work of the World Peoples Assembly and the Turkmen Culture Society, aimed at developing cultural and humanitarian ties between Russia and Turkmenistan. The cooperation between the organizations already has a history: previously the partners held events dedicated to the legacy of a great Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy, bringing together representatives of the public, science and art from Russia and Turkmenistan around cultural dialogue.

Before the concert a guided tour of the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia was organized for the guests.

On behalf of the World Peoples Assembly the participants were welcomed by Maxim Sidorov, Head of the Directorate for the Preservation of Historical Memory:

- Culture and art have a special unifying power. They allow people from different countries to speak a mutually understandable language, discover the richness of traditions and to find common values. Development of international humanitarian cooperation is one of the important areas of the World Peoples Assembly’s activities.

Special words of gratitude were addressed to the Turkmen Culture Society and its head, Gulnabat Tekaeva, for the initiative to hold the event and many years of preserving and promoting Turkmen culture in Russia, as well as to the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia for its support of the project, hospitality and assistance in its implementation.

The core music program was the first concert from Vladimir Mkrtumov's cycle "All Mozart's Piano Sonatas". The pianist performed five works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sonata No. 1 in C major, Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, Sonata No. 10 in C major, Fantasia and Sonata in C minor and Sonata No. 18 in B-flat major.

The warm atmosphere of the classical performance was enhanced by space of the museum's historic building – the former Moscow English Club, which history is linked to the name of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin and the cultural life of 19th-century Moscow. Classical music, familiar to listeners of different eras, was again played in the historical interiors of old Moscow.

The second part of the program was directly connected with the culture of Turkmenistan and the anniversary of its capital. Vladimir Mkrtumov and Barno Mamedova presented the symphonic poem "Magtymguly" by Ashir Kuliev, one of the founders of the Turkmen professional compositional school. The work was composed in 1948 during the composer's studies at the Moscow Conservatory and is dedicated to the image of the outstanding Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Pyragy.

The piano duet also performed the cantata "Sounds of the Dutar" by Turkmen composer and conductor Danatar Ovezov, set to poems by poet and playwright Gusein Mukhtarov.

Inclusion of works by classics of Turkmen musical culture allowed Moscow audience to become acquainted with an important part of Turkmenistan's national cultural heritage.

The program ended with works by Sergei Rachmaninoff – the «Romance» and «Waltz» for piano four-hands, performed by Vladimir Mkrtumov and Barno Mamedova.

Organization of the concert dedicated to the 145th anniversary of Ashgabat became a vivid example of cooperation between public and cultural organizations of the two countries. Such projects are of particular importance for the World Peoples Assembly: a space of mutual interest and respect between peoples is formed through music, literature, historical heritage and direct human communication.

Together with its partners the World Peoples Assembly will continue to support cultural and humanitarian initiatives that contribute to preservation of national heritage, introduction to the cultures of different countries and strengthening of friendly ties between the peoples of Russia, Turkmenistan and other states.

Additional information is available on the official website of the World Peoples Assembly and at media@world-assembly.org.