Korean Royal Flute
National Symphony
Orchestra of Uzbekistan
Orchestra of Uzbekistan
Dubai, UAE
The National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan returns to the Coca-Cola Arena on Saturday 18th February for their penultimate performance at the 2023 InClassica International Music Festival. Showcasing the very best of Uzbek musical talent, the ensemble will be led by their Principal Conductor, the multiple-award winning Alibek Kabdurakhmanov (Uzbekistan), throughout the evening, and will present an evening of refined musical entertainment, joined by renowned Korean flautist Jasmine Choi, the Cultural Ambassador for Daejeon, Sony Classical published recording artist, and former Principal Flute of the Vienna Symphony and Associate Principal of the Cincinnati Symphony.
Born in 1984 in Tashkent, Alibek Kabdurakhmanov graduated from the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan with a Bachelors in Percussion Instruments in 2006, a Masters in the same field in 2008, and a Masters in Opera and Symphonic Conducting in 2019.
Since 2007 he has been an accompanist of the percussion group of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, becoming conductor of the orchestra in 2014, and its main conductor in 2018.
As conductor, he has worked with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, State Academic Symphony Orchestra Almaty, Musical theater orchestra - studio at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, Ensemble of contemporary music “Omnibus” Orchestra named “Kurmangazy”, and Youth symphony orchestra of Uzbekistan, among others.
He appeared in many festivals including the International Contemporary Music Festival "Turbulence"; 33 International festival "Moscow Autumn" Sessions of the Youth Orchestra of the World (JMWO); International Festival “Musical Summer Evenings”; International Festival "Euro-Orchestra"; International festival “Drums of the World”; International "Easter Festival", and International festival "Ilkhom-XX".
He has won various awards, including Laureate of the Tasanno Prize in the Field of Culture (2005, 2007); Grand Prix at the Shabyt International Competition (2007); Special prize "for best performance with an orchestra" in the International Competition "EMCY Art for Music Prize" (2006); 2nd prize of the International Competition “EMCY Art for Music Prize” (2006).
Flutist Jasmine Choi is one of the most celebrated flutists of our time, known for her virtuosity and refined musicianship, as well as her adventurous projects. She has performed across the globe in a variety of genres from classical solo, chamber, and orchestral to experimental, jazz, and pop.
A former principal flute of the Vienna Symphony under Fabio Luisi and associate principal of the Cincinnati Symphony under Paavo Jarvi, Ms. Choi has performed as a soloist with the Vienna Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, St.Petersburg Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Salzburg Mozart Players, Berlin Symphony, New York Classical Players, Seoul Philharmonic, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, as well as at recitals in Paris, Vienna, London, Munich, Geneve, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong.
She has recorded several solo CDs under the Sony Classical label, including Mozart Flute Concertos, Fantasy (Virtuoso Flute Works), Claude Bolling Jazz Suite, Mozart Flute Quartets, Works of Brahms, Schumann, Reinecke. Other recordings include Telemann Fantasies, Love in Paris (from a live recital), Trio Joy (free improvisation), and three single albums including her arrangement of Paganini's Caprice No.24, Clarke's Great Train Race and Reichert's Encore Solo.
Ms. Choi speaks English, German and Korean, and resides in Austria between concert tours. She has a strong presence on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram, and enjoys communicating regularly with her fans.
The National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan is a highly professional community of musicians, one of the leading collectives of the republic, rightfully constituting the pride of the national musical culture.
In the 80-year history of the orchestra there are a lot of significant events: participation in numerous music festivals, joint performances with outstanding soloists of our time - masters of the domestic and foreign scenes. The repertoire of the orchestra includes almost all major works of Uzbek, Russian, Western European classical music, many modern composers trust the team to premiere performances of their compositions. Also an important place in the activity of the orchestra is occupied by symphonic educational programs for children and youth.
Today there are about 80 musicians in the orchestra. Among them are many of those whose creative activity in this team has been going on for more than a dozen years. At the same time, recently, fresh forces — creative youth, graduates of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan — have actively joined the orchestra. The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) was created on December 1 in 1937. Its founder and first conductor was N. Gorchakov. In 1948 he was replaced by A. Kozlovsky. From 1956 to 1963, the orchestra was headed by a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory Nariman Alimov, and from 1963 to 1997, the orchestra was headed by a professor, People's Artist of Uzbekistan - Zahid Khaknazarov. In 1986, the NSO was awarded the title of Honored Team of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In connection with the independence of Uzbekistan, the government of the Republic showed great concern for the aesthetic, cultural, quality service of the population in 1998, the orchestra was separated into an independent creative and economic unit: “The State Unitary Enterprise“ National Symphony Orchestra ”of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This was a new, powerful impetus for the development and fruitful work of the team. The NSO was led by new, young, talented, energetic leaders: People's Artist Ismail Dzhalilov was appointed artistic director and director; chief conductor - composer - Anvar Ergashev; conductor - Vladimir Neimer.
Among the conductors with whom he had the honor of performing the orchestra are the chief conductor of the Sicilian Academy of Music, Gaetano Kolayianni, and the principal conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra (USA) is Ricardo Capasso. These concerts were a great success with the Tashkent public.
The National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan is widely known not only in its own country, but also abroad. Twice the NSO went on tour to foreign countries - to Thailand, where he performed with an independent concert program. All these performances have always been a great success, and as noted by the foreign press at the highest professional level. The concerts of the group were appreciated by the audience of Russia, Germany, France and other countries.
The main achievement of the orchestra in recent years has been the acquisition of its public, primarily due to its high performing skills and well-thought-out repertoire policies. The repertoire of the orchestra is truly limitless - it is a kind of “calling card” of the collective: compositions of all eras, genres and styles, numerous- premiere performances of works by contemporaries. Concerts of world vocalists: A. Bocelli, A. Safin, H. Carreras, A. Netrebko, and instrumentalists: Behzod Abduraimov (piano), Vladimir Sverdlov-Ashkenazi (piano), Yuri Gandelsman (alto) caused a big resonance in the musical life of Tashkent. , Rochelle Sennet (piano), Igor Kalnin (violin) and many others.
But a truly grand event was the Open Spring concert, held on April 15 2018 at the Palace of the International Forums "Uzbekistan", dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan, which was attended by stars of national, national, academic and pop music.
The National Symphony Orchestra continues to develop successfully and still remains in the very center of the cultural life of the capital. It is doubly pleasant to see that the orchestra not only keeps its high-quality brand, but also surprises listeners with professional growth and surprises in the form of rarely performed compositions. Today, the country's musical life is unthinkable without symphony concerts for connoisseurs of classical music, without programs opening the world of great music for small ones, without meetings with new and new soloists and conductors.
It should be noted that the National Symphony Orchestra makes a worthy contribution to the development of cultural ties in Uzbekistan, contributes to strengthening interaction in the field of classical music, as well as rapprochement of different peoples and nationalities of the world.
