26.08.2024

On August 26, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, participated in the grand opening ceremony of the 13th International Music Festival "Sharq Taronalari."

In his opening remarks, the President warmly welcomed the guests, conveying the best wishes from the people of Uzbekistan. He noted that the festival "Sharq Taronalari" has evolved into a global celebration of melodies from around the world.

"How many enchanting, beautiful melodies have resonated under the starry sky of Samarkand over the years! Through our forum, the musical values formed in the ancient East have gained wide international recognition. The festival has revealed the names of dozens of talented singers and musicians, gifted young people, giving them wings to soar, and fueling their creativity with strength and inspiration," said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In recent years, the number of such events in Uzbekistan has increased. International festivals of maqom art, bakhshi, crafts, folklore, and dance festivals "Great Silk Road" and "Lazgi," as well as the Tashkent International Film Festival, are regularly held. These have become a noble appeal from Uzbekistan to humanity for peace and harmony, friendship, and unity.

"In these troubled times, it is increasingly difficult to preserve intrinsic and humanistic values. In such a challenging situation, true art, music, and literature, which originate from sacred sources and celebrate the ideals of humanism, must emerge as a life-affirming force, bringing peace and goodness to people, transcending the boundaries of time and space," said the President of Uzbekistan.

He emphasized the importance of strengthening friendship and harmony among peoples, studying musical heritage, and passing it on to future generations. In this context, he proposed the creation of a separate encyclopedia and its virtual version—a multifunctional information platform that reflects the history and traditions of the "Sharq Taronalari" festival, containing extensive information on the rich and diverse musical culture of the East. He also suggested organizing an international "Friends of the Festival" club and holding concert programs featuring winners and laureates of the festival on prestigious stages around the world.

The ceremony was attended by honored guests from UNESCO, TURKSOY, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and other organizations. This year, the festival sees the participation of over 400 artists and scholars from nearly 80 countries.

As part of the festival, an international scientific-practical conference titled "Musical Culture of the Peoples of the East: Principles of Creative Integration in Globalization Processes" will be held.