DUSHANBE, July 23, 2008, Asia-Plus — An amateur music group “Chiltan”, consisting of former students at Gumbold University in Berlin and led by Furqat Niyozi, has performed a concert of Tajik songs in Berlin this month, known German orientalist, Professor Manfred Lorenz, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
The concert was performed on July 12 on occasion of the 10th anniversary of this group. “The group performed Tajik and Uzbek songs to the accompaniment Tajik national music instruments such as rubob, ghidzhak, doira as well as Arabic ud and accordion,” said Professor Lorenz, “Besides, they demonstrated two films that had been made during Chiltan’s tour of Dushanbe and Samarqand.”
The audience – Germans, Russians, Tajiks and others – gave them a standing ovation, Professor Lorenz said. After the concert, Tajik pilaf was organized for the audience.
“Representatives of the Tajik embassy in Berlin, Khisrav Ghoibov, conveyed greetings of the Tajik diplomatic mission to the group,” said Professor Lorenz, “The group was also welcomed by an officer of the Uzbek Embassy in Berlin.”
An ensemble of Bukhara Jews, led by Ari Babakhanov, performed a concert in one galleries of Berlin on July 18. The concert program included Tajik and Uzbek songs and they were also liked by the audience, Mr. Lorenz noted.
