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The Nevai Musical Concerto in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, celebrated the shared cultural heritage of the Turkic world, uniting the literary and philosophical legacies of Ali Sher Navai, Yunus Emre, and Rumi through music.
Held at the Turkistan Concert Hall in the Uzbek capital, the performance centered on the works and intellectual legacy of Ali Shir Navai while also drawing on Yunus Emre's teachings on human love and Rumi's universal message, according to a statement from the organizers.
The project was led by composer and artistic director Yucel Arzen Haciogullari, who also serves as an Istanbul lawmaker for Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party). It aims to reinterpret the shared cultural values of Turkic communities through music.
Haciogullari described music as a powerful form of collective memory that connects people with their history and cultural roots.
He emphasized that while words and meanings can change over time, sound retains its ability to evoke a sense of belonging across generations.
"Words are forgotten, meanings change. But sound calls people back to their roots from centuries away," he said, explaining the approach behind the musical interpretation of Navai's legacy.
Project director Burak Saygili similarly highlighted the importance of preserving cultural connections among communities living across different regions.
He said the project seeks to bring shared traditions back into focus and pass them on to future generations, describing Navai, Yunus Emre and Rumi as figures whose intellectual and cultural legacies have connected communities for centuries.
"Words are forgotten, songs are remembered," Saygili said, adding that the organizers hope to revive this shared memory through music and carry it to different regions.
The Tashkent event brought together Turkish Ambassador to Uzbekistan Ufuk Ulutas, Uzbek Deputy Culture Minister Sancar Babacanov, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University Rector Nevzat Simsek and guests from both countries.
The concert received support from the Turkish Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Culture, the Yunus Emre Institute, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), Konya Metropolitan Municipality, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University and Turkish Airlines.
Following its debut in Uzbekistan, the Nevai Musical Concerto is expected to hold its second performance in Azerbaijan as organizers seek to introduce the shared cultural heritage of the Turkic world to wider audiences and strengthen cultural ties through the arts.
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