ERG co-organises a concert of the glorious Kazakhstan ensemble “Sazgen Sazy” in the Conservatoire de Luxembourg
This Sunday, 15 October, continuing the tradition from previous years, Embassy of Kazakhstan to Belgium, the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Luxembourg, and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) arranged another authentic event celebrating Kazakh culture in Luxembourg. The concert of Kazakhstan’s leading national folklore and ethnographic ensemble “Sazgen Sazy”, which was followed by a gala reception, took place in the Conservatoire de Luxembourg in honour of the forthcoming Republic Day of Kazakhstan.
More than 250 guests, including members of the Kazakh diaspora in Europe and other residents of the Grand Duchy and neighbouring countries, politicians, diplomats, senior representatives from various business, public and cultural organizations – all those interested in the rich cultural heritage of Kazakhstan – have attended the concert, which was also supported by the Akimat of Almaty and the Luxembourg City Hall.
Welcoming the guests of the concert, Ambassador of Kazakhstan Mr Margulan Baimukhan briefly spoke about the significance of Republic Day and the history of the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 1990, the historical significance of the holiday for the modern dynamic development of the country and the importance of the diversified development of relations with the Grand Duchy. He added that the rich musical heritage of the Kazakh people, popularized including through the creativity and talent of the Sazgen Sazy musicians, is an important tool of Kazakh public diplomacy.
Michel Turk, Vice-President of the Schengen Peace Foundation, thanked for the pleasant acquaintance with the Kazakh musical traditions, which reflect the history of the peoples and cultures that have ever come into contact with the Kazakh steppes. According to Mr. Turk, the sound of Kazakh instruments is breathtaking, and the musical compositions reflect the beauty of Kazakhstan.
Benedikt Sobotka, CEO of ERG and the Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan to Luxembourg, said: ‘Sazgen Sazy is a unique and glorious music ensemble from Kazakhstan, which has existed for more than 40 years and has toured in over 40 countries. This wonderful Kazakh cultural event at the Conservatoire de Luxembourg was met with great acclaim from ERG’s employees and partners, residents of Luxembourg and guests from other countries.’
Guests were presented with folk songs, as well as works by outstanding composers such as Kurmangazy and Shamshi Kaldayakov, Vittorio Monti, Astor Piazzolla and others. The ensemble's repertoire turned out to be unique for traditionally European programs of musical events, providing the general public of Luxembourg with the opportunity to get acquainted with the sound of traditional musical instruments, listen to Kazakh folk melodies, and also hear in a new way famous works of European classics performed by the ensemble.
‘I would like to thank the musicians, the whole team at the Embassy of Kazakhstan to Belgium led by Mr Ambassador Baimukhan Margulan, the Honorary Consulate of Kazakhstan in Luxembourg, and all those involved for organising such a masterpiece of Kazakh music and tradition in the city of ERG’s headquarters in Europe,’ added Mr Sobotka.
