"Without changing our traditions, we have prepared a rich program, which included a vocal concert by opera star Maria Mudryak. We are very happy that we managed to organize this concert with our symphony orchestra. In addition, we have carefully approached the new format of the celebration of Nauryz and, since we are the guardians of our national choreography, we have prepared a unique performance by Ethno Fashion Ballet. It was interesting, spectacular and hopefully really touched the hearts of the audience. We are very glad that the touring performances of our theater have found the right response from critics and the audience," said Alexander Sovostyanov.
The capital's team presented a unique, multi-genre program in Almaty, which gave the opportunity to enjoy the unique atmosphere of ballet art and classical music.The star of the world opera Maria Mudryak performed with the symphony orchestra of the Astana Ballet Theater. Giuseppe Acquaviva was the conductor of the concert, and Damir Saduakhasov was the soloist. This evening, the masterpieces of Italian opera harmoniously combined with the lyricism of the French aria, the romance of the Austrian operetta met with the hot fervent Spanish Zarzuela, and the famous overture "Carmen" filled the hall with an exciting atmosphere of passion and drama.
The unique show program "Melodic show" presented a new format of concerts. The program includes bright and recognizable instrumental works, jazz and modern hits in an original arrangement: John Kander – NEW YORK, NEW YORK; Andrew Lloyd Webber – The Phantom of the Opera; Claude Bolling – Suite for Flute & Jazz Piano Trio; Rondo Veneziano – Armonie for oboe & violin; Kim Soo Jin – B Rossette; Zequinha de Abréu – Tico Tico; Drum Show and other multi-format performances.
The theater showed the diversity of its repertoire, offering the audience classical and modern choreographic productions. Ballet fans were able to enjoy the ballet "Salome" to the music of Fazyl Saya. Inspired by Oscar Wilde's work of the same name, the chief choreographer of the theater, Mukaram Avakhri, managed to turn the ballet narrative into a philosophical parable, exposing the dark and bright depths of the human soul.
The artists also presented choreographic variations on Abai's poems – a bright and philosophical performance "The Language of Love" to the music of Renat Salavatov, Carl Jenkins and Hamit Shangaliev. The ballet includes eight variations: Illumination, Segiz ayak, The Seasons, Kozimnin karasy, Toy bastar, Tatiana's Letter, the poet's Plea and Zhelsiz tunde. For two days there was a screening of the large-scale play "Romeo and Juliet" to the music of Sergei Prokofiev, choreographed by Vladimir Yakovlev. The play conveys the most subtle psychological movements of the human soul, the richness of Shakespeare's thought, the passion and drama of his first of the most perfect tragedies. Famous critics and musicologists shared their impressions after the performances of the Moscow troupe.
"Almaty residents are always looking forward to the spring tour of the theater, expecting to see new productions and national programs, but this time "Astana Ballet" exceeded all expectations. Such different events happened within one week! And this shows the desire of the theater to develop in different directions, to cover an increasing creative space, to be interesting not only to old-timers, music lovers and ballet lovers, but also to attract young people, educate and captivate them into the magical world of theater, music and dance," noted ballet critic Flura Musina.
"The evening of the ballet introduced the Almaty audience to two choreographic experiments: the performances "Salome" and "The Language of Love". The experimentation of the first is expressed in the extraordinary dynamics, minimalism and symbolism in the scenic design, the choreographer creates unusually graphic multi-figure compositions that capture the viewer with the beauty of the plasticity of modern dance; the second represents the poetics of the images of the great Abai, here both in choreography and scenic design ethnography prevails, images of nomadic culture. Both performances are beautiful in their own way, captivate the viewer, the main difficulty for whom was to combine these two universes so unlike each other in one theatrical evening," noted musicologist Valeria Nedlina.
"The repertoire of the tour showed the fruitful work of the theater in terms of the diversity of the presented repertoire and the performing skills of the artists. The ballet "Romeo and Juliet" with its rich texture and scenic action has become a vivid indicator of the artistic growth of the troupe and the development of choreographic culture in Kazakhstan," Togzhan Moldalim, art manager of Qazaq Ballet Creative Lab, shared.
