Astana Opera welcomes audiences to experience the profound and enigmatic musical world of the illustrious German composer Johann Sebastian Bach. On 13 September, the concert ‘BACH. Unaccompanied’ will be presented at the Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall as part of the Musical Alliance series. 
The evening will feature talented musicians, including principal first violin of the Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Bagdat Abilkhanov, alongside colleagues Anel Shakirova, Akmaral Zhangazina, and Assel Zhakiyanova, as well as guest artists Madina Kapeu and Yerkebulan Saparbayev. They will perform celebrated sonatas and partitas for solo violin by J.S. Bach – composer, virtuoso organist, Kapellmeister, and educator. 
“Every self-respecting musician must connect with the music created by Johann Sebastian Bach,” said Bagdat Abilkhanov, the author and driving force behind the Musical Alliance project. “This is because his music deeply develops a person’s spiritual essence. When a musician performs Bach’s works for even forty minutes a day, everything aligns perfectly – from their state of mind to their consciousness. Bach wrote flawless music that can be played from beginning to end, or from end to beginning, and it always sounds beautiful. In fact, performing his sonatas and partitas is a mandatory requirement in all violin competitions. I consider him one of the greatest composers to have left a singular mark on music history. He wrote a vast number of works for instrumentalists and choral ensembles, in addition to his remarkable compositions for the organ.” 
Interestingly, Bach’s music was not previously so popular. However, Felix Mendelssohn made a monumental breakthrough in popularising his compositions in 1829 by bringing the Matthäuspassion to the public stage. He transformed Bach’s heritage from the domain of a narrow circle of connoisseurs into a national and global cultural phenomenon, establishing a tradition of mass performance of Bach’s music that persists to this day. 
The sonatas and partitas for solo violin, as the name implies, are performed by musicians without accompaniment. “If the question arises as to why this is unique and interesting, then one must, of course, speak about these particular works by the composer,” explains Bagdat Abilkhanov. “Over the course of three years, our audiences will witness the complete cycle of Bach’s masterpieces. Six violinists will present their interpretation of the Baroque style: all six sonatas and partitas performed live – repertoire that is usually only accessible through audio recordings. We are proud to share this treasure with you, as listening to such music means enriching one’s inner world.” 
Previously, within the framework of the Musical Alliance series, the opera house’s virtuoso violinists and guest performers have explored the heritage of such composers as Eugène Ysaÿe, Ludwig van Beethoven, Dmitri Shostakovich, and many others. The creator of this popular, audience-favourite project, Bagdat Abilkhanov, remarkably combines his violin mastery with the art of instrument making. It should be noted that he recently completed his sixth internship at the Italian Academia Cremonensis under the guidance of leading restorers. 
“Cremona is the heartland of world masters, such as Antonio Stradivari and Giuseppe Guarneri, who created magnificent violins, violas, and cellos. For many years now, this city has been a second home to me. This summer at the Academia Cremonensis, I was engaged in making a copy of Andrea Amati’s famous violin, known as the ‘Alard’, and returned home with my sixth certificate and immense inspiration. Therefore, I have a great deal of news that I want to share with my dear colleagues and beloved audience. I joyfully invite everyone to our upcoming performance,” concluded the acclaimed violinist. 
The concert will begin at 5 pm.