The Seven Beauties Music Group Concert

By Roy Lie Atjam

The President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Mrs Gunay Afandiyeva, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Netherlands H.E. Mr Rahman Mustafayev, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Netherlands H.E. Mr Askar Zhumagaliyev, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the Netherlands H.E. Mr Selçuk Ünal, invited friends, colleagues and others at the concert by the Seven Beauties Music Group, at the Chancellery of Azerbaijan on 24 October 2023. 

The Ambassadors: Rahman Mustafayev, Askar Zhumagaliyev, Selçuk Ünal and Mrs Gunay Afandiyeva, President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, each welcome the guests.

The “Seven Beauties” music group is a testament to the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the Turkic world. The ensemble comprised exceptionally talented female musicians representing seven member states of the Organisation of Turkic States (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Hungary (observer). The concert was a celebration of the music, harmony and diversity of the Turkic culture.

The title Seven Beauties doesn’t only refer to the seven young ladies or the seven countries, but after the poem Seven Beauties by genius philosopher and poet Nizami Ganjavi (Azerbaijan). The concert de facto paid homage to this genius of the Turkic World Nizami Ganjavi.

The repertoire consisted of pieces by:

• “Arazbarı” – Uzeyir Hajibeyli 
• “Kozimnin Karası” – Аbay Кunanbaev (Kazakistan)
• “Türkiye 100” – Turan Manafzade 
• “Ok Lolalar” – Uzbek folk song (Uzbekistan)
• “Hungarian Dance” no.5 – Johannes Brahms (Hungary)
• “Men seni araram” – Fikrat Аmirov 
• “Тurkmen Dance” – Radjab Radjabov (Turkmenistan)
• “Paxtacı kızdın biyi” – Seydaly Madatov (Kırgızstan)
• “Nazende Sevgilim” – Azerbaijani song
• “Sarı Gelin” – Azerbaijani folk song
• “Lachin” – Azerbaijani folk song 
• “Libertango” – Astor Piazzola
• “Turkish March” – Wolfgang Amadeus Моzart (arr. by Fazıl Say)

The ensemble included: Turan Manafzadeh from Azerbaijan as the conductor and pianist, Maiya Medetbek from Kazakhstan violin, Kanysh Nurdi from Kyrgyzstan violin, Gökce Bahar Oytun from Turkiye on cello, Vlada Guseynpva from Uzbekistan violin, Selbi Kadirova from Turkmenistan violin and Paulovits Boglárka also on violin.

The “Seven Beauties” music group concert was astonishing, their creativity, performativity and musicality captivated the audience for the entire duration of the concert. Everyone left the concert in high spirits.