by Heidi Trautmann
The TRNC Ministry of Tourism, Environment
and Culture and the General Directorate of Joint Administration of Turkic
Culture and Arts (Türksoy) have invited to enjoy the 16th Türksoy
Opera Days again in 2013. It was decided by Türksoy that the year 2013 is
dedicated to the great Turkic composer Mukan Tölebayev (1913-1960) to
commemorate his 100th anniversary.
The General Directorate of Joint
Administration of Turkic Culture and Arts (Türksoy) is an international
foundation which was established in 1993 in Almaty among the ministers of
culture of the Turkish speaking countries Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Turkey. The countries which
participated later on as observing members are the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan, Khakasia, Tuva, Altai Republic,
Sakha(Yakutia) Republic and Gagauzia. The official language is Turkish and its
headquarters are in Ankara. The main goal of Türksoy is to establish
relationship among the Turkish speaking countries based on friendship to
research and promote the Turkish culture preserving it for the next generation.
The Türksoy Opera Days – this year it was
only one day - however, another concert was given at the Girne American
University - are for me a special event and for many others and I never miss
it. Again it was with free admittance.
There were ten singers from eight different
countries, namely Sabina Vahabzade (mezzo) from Azerbaycan; Halid Nuraliyev
(soprano) from Kirgistan; Lubov Butorina (mezzo) from Baskurdistan; Baris Yanc (tenor) from Turkey; Zakir Valiyev
(bariton) from Baskurdistan; Tugrul Enver Töre (bariton) from TRNC, Elena Filinkova (soprano)
from Kazakistan; Kunduz Karippayeva
(soprano) from Kirgistan; Rigine Valieva (soprano) from Tataristan; Damirak Mongus (soprano) from Tuva (RF). The
singers were accompanied by the pianists Aslima Maktagulova from Kazakistan and
Nona Tsutskiridze from Turkey.
A most impressive programme with arias by
Tulebayev, G.Caccini (Ave Maria), Bizet Hamidi, A. Saygun; Toka, Tschaikovsky,
Saint-Saens, S. Ada, E. Ponse, Verdi, Puccini and E. Cappua, not only famous
European composers but some not so often played here in Cyprus, also some
folkloric songs from Azerbaijan, which was very welcome by the audience.
The Abbey Crypt was full this year and the
audience was very grateful and called for encores which were given by all
singers together. Aren’t we lucky, said some friends I met when we walked
together through the dark and silent village to our cars, aren’t we lucky to be
part of this? Yes, I said, we are!