The same theme—the changing seasons—can sound completely different. For Vivaldi, it's the baroque clarity and movement of nature; for Astor Piazzolla, the temperament of Buenos Aires and the rhythm of tango; for Max Richter, a contemporary take on music familiar for several centuries.
It is these three interpretations that will meet on October 1st at the Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall for the concert "Violin. Four Seasons," dedicated to International Music Day.
The solo parts will be performed by the Astana Opera's first violinist, Honored Artist of Kazakhstan Bagdat Abilkhanov, and violinist Anel Shakirova. The theater's chamber orchestra will perform under the baton of People's Artist of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin.
"For all of us musicians, this is an exciting moment to meet our dear listeners, without whom this celebration would be impossible," the maestro notes.
The centerpiece of the evening will be a unique musical dialogue across time. Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" has long been one of the most recognizable works of Baroque music. Several centuries later, Astor Piazzolla created his own cycle, "The Four Seasons in Buenos Aires," infusing the familiar idea with the energy of Argentine tango. And Max Richter, in his "Recomposed," offered a modern reimagining of Vivaldi's score, preserving its recognizable intonations but completely transforming the sense of musical time.
Thus, one concert becomes a journey through several eras—and simultaneously a reminder that classic music lives not only through the preservation of tradition, but also through its constant reinterpretation.
For the Astana Opera artists, this evening will be a professional celebration, and for the audience, an opportunity to hear how the four seasons have changed along with the music itself.