UNESCO honors Kazakh composer Nurgisa Tlendiev with Paris exhibition
Centennial tribute highlights Tlendiev’s legacy in preserving Kazakh and Turkic musical traditions through dombra and folk symphonies.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — UNESCO has opened a landmark exhibition in Paris honoring the centennial of Nurgisa Tlendiev, a towering figure in Kazakh music whose compositions fused ancient traditions with modern expression.
As reported by Kazakh media outlet DKnews.kz, the exhibit titled “Roots of Inspiration: Legacy of Nurgisa Tlendiev” was inaugurated at UNESCO Headquarters and recognizes Tlendiev’s lasting contributions to cultural heritage. The 42nd UNESCO General Conference previously included his centenary in its list of anniversaries celebrated globally for 2024–2025.
Jointly organized by the Almaty City Administration, the Permanent Delegation of Kazakhstan to UNESCO, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, the exhibition features nearly 70 items from the Ykhlas Museum of Folk Musical Instruments and the Nurgisa Tlendiev Memorial Museum. Traditional dombra and other instruments central to Tlendiev’s creative process are on display.
Divided into five thematic sections, the exhibition traces the composer’s life, artistic evolution, and the broader trajectory of Kazakh music. A special section also highlights the instruments of Turkic peoples, emphasizing cultural interconnectedness across the region.
Ambassador Askar Abdrakhmanov, Kazakhstan’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, said Tlendiev was “more than a musician – he was a true chronicler of the Kazakh musical soul.” The exhibit, he added, honors a living tradition that Tlendiev helped preserve.
UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture, Ernesto Ottone, praised Tlendiev’s ability to weave together spiritual memory and modern influences. “His music shows how diverse voices can form harmony — a metaphor that aligns deeply with UNESCO’s mission of peace and intercultural dialogue,” Ottone said.
The exhibition’s emotional peak came during a tribute from the composer’s daughter, Dinara Tlendiyeva. “My father’s music united generations and carried the soul of the steppe,” she said. “I thank UNESCO for helping preserve his legacy and building bridges between cultures.”
The event drew ambassadors, UNESCO officials, diplomats, music enthusiasts, and members of the Kazakh diaspora in France. It concluded with stirring performances by Kazakh folk artists Yerkin Kudaibergen and Serik Nurmoldayev, who played some of Tlendiev’s most iconic works using traditional instruments.
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