NEWS
A VIDEOCONFERENCE BRIDGE BETWEEN ASHGABAT AND VIENNA
On December 4, the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater hosted a videoconference bridge linking the Turkmen capital with the Austrian capital, Vienna. The virtual event, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s neutrality, aimed to highlight the instrumental role of humanitarian cooperation in the foreign policy pursued by the head of state Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Notably, this year marks the 65th anniversary of the Republic of Austria’s neutrality.
During the online event, President of the Austrian-Turkmen Society Neda Berger congratulated the nation’s leader and the people of Turkmenistan on the upcoming holidays, International Neutrality Day and New Year, on behalf of the people of Austria.
As the head of the Joint Society, she said that it is a great privilege for her to make a personal contribution to fostering a favorable environment for the development of interstate relations, including by implementing cultural projects.
Founded on President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s initiative, the Galkynysh Turkmen-Austrian Symphony Orchestra is one of those impressive projects. Last year, the Orchestra officially celebrated its 10th anniversary and gave a concert performance to mark the occasion.
Artistic director and conductor of the Galkynysh Orchestra Wolfgang Harrer shared his impressions of Turkmenistan and of the joint work with Turkmen musicians and unveiled creative plans for the future, including the ones to be implemented in partnership with the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan. Maestro W. Harrer emphasized the high professional level of competence demonstrated by his Turkmen counterparts.
The event participants noted that concerts by the Galkynysh Orchestra and Viennese Balls had become iconic symbols of Turkmenistan’s cultural life and the hallmark of a bilateral humanitarian dialogue.
Then, the event continued with music, known to be a universal language. In celebration of 25 years of the country’s neutrality, the State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan performed Johann Strauss’s ‘On the Beautiful Blue Danube Waltz’, Austria’s unofficial national anthem and an encore piece at the Vienna New Year’s Day Concert.
Members of the Galkynysh Turkmen-Austrian Symphony Orchestra from Vienna performed R. Nepesov’s ‘Fantasy’ and an extract from ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ (A Little Night Music) by W. A. Mozart…
After the musical performances, the videoconference bridge participants wished each other creative discoveries, success, interesting and engaging cultural projects and new contacts not only online but also face-to-face interaction and direct collaboration in different fields.