Gulzoda (Uzbekistan)

Gulzoda Khudoynazarova, vocals; Bekzod Safarov, dutar; Farrukh Vohidov, ghijak 

Gulzoda Khudoinazarova is a leading figure in traditional Uzbek music today. Born in 1981 in the ancient city of Bukhara, she trained in traditional folk singing and specialised in shashmaqam, one of Central Asia’s most important classical musical traditions and a genre recognised on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The term translates as “six maqams”, referring to a system of six melodic modes: buzruk, rast, navo, dugoh, segoh, and iroq.

Drawing on the subtle nuances of her voice, Gulzoda imbues her songs with distinctive expressiveness, while her charismatic stage presence captivates audiences both at home and abroad. She will perform alongside two master musicians: Bekzod Safarov, a renowned virtuoso of the dutar and a leading authority on shashmaqam and the traditional Uzbek repertoire, and Farrukh Vohidov, an expert in Uzbek classical music who plays the ghijak, a traditional Central Asian string instrument. The ensemble performs internationally and has appeared at major venues and festivals worldwide, including a highly acclaimed concert at WOMEX in Santiago de Compostela, as well as performances in Germany, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, and France.

Steeped in centuries-old melodies, vocal traditions, and masterful musicianship, the programme brings to life the ancient heritage of Uzbek folk music – a precious musical world only rarely encountered on our stages.