Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - Diva International magazine (Switzerland) has published material on the XII Sharq Taronalari International Music Festival. The author of the article, the publisher and editor-in-chief of the magazine, Merit Foss, took a direct part in this festival of folk music, Dunyo reported.

Talking about the festival, the author introduces his concept and traditions. It is noted that the venue of the forum is the ancient Registan Square in Samarkand. This place has become the best venue for the event, which is based on the idea of ​​preserving traditional songwriting.

“The festival is held once every two years. It was first held in 1997. Talented singers, dancers and musicians from around the world take part in it,” Foss informs.

She reports that at the opening of the festival, guests were welcomed by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

“Audrey Azoulay said that the preservation of world heritage, the development of musical art as a universal language of intercultural dialogue is part of UNESCO’s mission, and that the Organization seeks to develop full-scale cooperation with Uzbekistan in this direction,” the article says.

The author writes that 340 artists from 75 countries took part in the festival. Among the debutants are Argentina, Myanmar and Fiji. In her opinion, the twelfth festival was significantly different from the previous ones. Performers participated in the competition for the best professional performance of folk songs and melodies. The jury, consisting of 11 representatives of international organizations, musicologists and composers, evaluated the performers and their performance. Winners were selected based on these ratings at the end of the festival.

“The festival program also included a number of events, open concerts, creative meetings, scientific conferences ... By tradition, a conference on the theme “Prospects for the development of traditional musical art of the peoples of the East” was held as part of the festival.

A number of presentations were held, reports of musicologists and scientists from more than 10 countries were heard, presentations were made. Museums, craft centers and hotels of Samarkand hosted exhibitions that presented the history of the festival in photographs, handicrafts, and musical instruments.

Trips to historical monuments that have ancient history, shrines, educational institutions, modern manufacturing enterprises, historical gardens of Amir Temur were organized, the author writes.