The International Festival "Music of Peace", dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan's permanent neutrality, has officially opened at the Palace of Mukams of the State Cultural Center in Ashgabat.

The event is attended by leading composers, conductors, opera singers and musicians from Russia, China, France, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, TDH reports.

The opening of the festival began with the performance of the song Türkmenistan by the State Symphony Orchestra and Choir of Turkmenistan. The ceremony was attended by heads of the cultural sphere, representatives of specialized institutions, the media, artists and students of higher educational institutions of the country.

The concert program presented a wide range of opera art from various national schools. The audience especially responded to the performances of artists from Uzbekistan, China and Armenia with the works Nowruz alawlary, Unabi, marali, şuşiki and Saňa garaşaryn.

The significant numbers of the program were the aria Zemfiranyň ariýasy from the opera "Aleko" and the song Haýrana galar by composer Nury Halmamedov. The repertoire was supplemented by Çubonaliniň aýdymy from the opera "Maisara's Tricks" and Gülçohranyň aýdymy from the operetta "Arshin Mal Alan" performed by Uzbek and Azerbaijani artists.

A soloist from the Republic of Bashkortostan (RF) presented the composition Meniň Aşgabadym, dedicated to the capital of Turkmenistan. The concert ended with a collective performance of the song Türkmen sährasy.

The festival also includes an exhibition in the foyer of the Mukam Palace, excursions to the sights of Ashgabat, creative meetings and master classes of famous artists for students of music schools. The festival will end with a gala concert with the participation of Turkmen and foreign masters of art.