Chamber concerts of classical music in Beijing have become an inalienable part of cultural exchanges between the member states of the SCO family. On 23 April 2018, the SCO Headquarters hosted the seventh concert of a cycle of musical soirees titled the Nine Magic Notes.
"Music gives us wings, makes us purer, more perfect and richer spiritually, bestows on us happy moments, but, most importantly, music unites us," SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov told the guests at the soiree. "Today, a young but already established composer and talented pianist from Kazakhstan, Abdysagin Rakhat-bi Tolegenuly, will lead us into the world of lofty emotions, passions and hidden thoughts of the authors of musical works," he said. "We should thank Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov for this generous gift ahead of the SCO summit and the 20th anniversary of the Kazakh capital, Astana," Mr Alimov added.
Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov noted the outstanding abilities of the talented composer and musician, who had conquered many musical Mounts Olympus in the world. "Rakhat-bi is the winner of many international prizes as well as Kazakhstan's Daryn State Prize. His compositions are performed by prominent soloists, chamber ensembles and symphonic orchestras in Europe, Asia and America. His music sounds in famous concert halls practically in all the European countries and in some Asian countries. Today it will sound at the SCO Headquarters," he said.
The guests witnessed the virtuoso performance and rare talent of Rakhat-bi, who presented a concert programme of classical works and compositions by Kazakh and Chinese composers. His own work, "Rondine piangente", was met with a stormy and unending applause.
After the concert, Secretary-General Rashid Alimov, in an expression of admiration, thanked Rakhat-bi for the wonderful evening and recited a poem dedicated to him:
Rakhat-bi the Star
In the rangy Kazakh steppes
A pilgrim walked from star to star
Lead by lit of Cluster of the Pleiades and Venus,
Temir Kazyk — the Kazakh Polar — all the brightest shining stars.
Their light is being seen always from wherever,
But, as today we see the one new star has sparked
And Music constellations have been brightened up
Rakhat-bi's talent is an almost magical treasure
So please, continue bright devoting light with pleasure!
A photographic exhibition commemorating the 20th anniversary of Astana was displayed as part of the musical soiree. The guests had an opportunity to gain an insight into the history and rapid development of Kazakhstan's capital, the youngest capital in the world.
The event was attended by the foreign ministers of the SCO member countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, Deputy Chairman of the Mazhilis (Parliament) of Kazakhstan, ambassadors and diplomats accredited in China, members of the public, representatives of the SCO Youth League and Kazakhstani diaspora, as well as journalists from the leading SCO media.
Abdysagin Rakhat-bi Tolenguly was born in 1999 in Kazakhstan. A talented composer and pianist, graduate of the Kazakh National Conservatory and the Accademia Musicale Santa Cecilia di Bergamo, Italy. At age 11, he was awarded the piano Grand Prix of the Colours of Prague International Festival (Czech Republic, 2010). At age14, he won First Prize at the Lullabies of the World. The Light of the Soul International Composers Competition in Yalta for his work "Rondine piangente" performed by himself. His piece, "Aport pour Satie," opened the Eric Satie International Festivals in Paris and Arcueil, France. World premieres of his works have been held in Astana, Almaty, Prague, London, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Los Angeles, Istanbul, and Moscow. His musical works were added to Southern Illinois University Discography fund boasting world piano masterpieces from Bach, Haydn and Mozart to modern composers.
Apart from music, Rakhat-bi is enthusiastic about mathematics, physics, history and painting. In 2013, he won first place at the International Competition of Scientific Projects in Moscow for his publication "Mathematics and Contemporary Music."
The SCO Headquarters hosts chamber music soirees as part of the SCO Is Our Common Home comprehensive programme. The cycle of musical soirees will culminate in a grand gala concert involving performers from all countries of the Shanghai Eight.