On 29 August, the ‘Watan’ Cinema and Concert Hall in Ashgabat will host a festive concert by the ‘Melody’ Youth Orchestra, entitled ‘Heart of the East’. This was reported by the news agency Orient.

The programme will feature new orchestral arrangements of well-known Eastern compositions, combining traditional motifs with a contemporary sound. The musicians will perform pieces reflecting the cultural heritage of the peoples of the East.

The repertoire will include Turkmen, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Armenian, Tajik, Kazakh and Arabic melodies. Each piece will be presented in a contemporary orchestral interpretation whilst retaining its national character.

The ‘Melody’ Orchestra, led by cellist Annaoraz Dovletov, is renowned for its performances of classical, contemporary and folk pieces in original arrangements.

The organisers note that the event is aimed at a family audience. Seating in the auditorium is limited.