The vibrant evening “Great Masterpieces” will take place on February 6 on the stage of the Kulyash Bayseitova Chamber Hall at Astana Opera. The concert is made special by the participation of acclaimed masters of classical art: Kazakhstan’s People’s Artist and Honored Worker violinist Aiman Musakhadzhayeva, Kazakhstan’s Honored Art Worker pianist Timur Urmancheev, as well as their colleagues — violinist Maksat Zhusupov, violist Gulnar Tleugabylova, and cellist Murat Narbekov.
The “Great Masterpieces” program features two chamber music works representing different yet brilliant worlds: the classicism of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the romanticism of Antonín Dvořák.
The concert opens with Mozart’s Piano Trio in G Major, a composition that was innovative for its time. It will be performed by Timur Urmancheev, Maksat Zhusupov, and Murat Narbekov. According to the pianist, this trio vividly conveys the composer’s breakthrough. “The piano stops being just an accompanying instrument and comes to the forefront, guiding the musical idea. Yet Mozart maintains balance: the violin and cello also have many beautiful themes; they are not merely a background but active conversational partners. The goal is not to solo or be a star, but to create a natural equilibrium, where each instrument’s entrance feels expected and organic.”
T. Urmancheev sees the dramaturgy of the entire evening in Mozart’s clarity and Dvořák’s emotional fullness. “At first glance, Mozart and Dvořák seem very different, but they are united by an incredible sense of form and the human language in music,” the musician explains. “Mozart has clarity, color, almost conversational intonation, where every phrase breathes. Dvořák brings expansiveness, folk roots, and warm lyricism. In this program, one can hear how chamber music develops from classical transparency to rich, almost symphonic chamber textures. This is a dialogue between two eras, with motion and inner impulse. Their juxtaposition makes the concert substantial and dramaturgically complete,” Timur Urmancheev notes.
The evening continues with Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, a work that captivates audiences worldwide with its emotional breadth and melodic richness. Renowned pianist Timur Urmancheev believes the quintet’s popularity lies in the extraordinary balance of grandeur and intimacy.
“Though this is a chamber work, it sounds like a whole world,” says T. Urmancheev. “For the pianist, the part is incredibly rewarding: virtuosic, but the main focus is not on effect, but on the breath of the music. The piano here is engine, narrator, and partner. This music is captivating because every performance conveys a living dialogue between instruments and themes. Listeners love it for its sincerity. Nothing is artificial; everything sounds as if it is being born in the moment.”
In this dialogue, the piano participates equally with the string quartet, and the ensemble is given special significance by the famous violinist Aiman Musakhadzhayeva. “Aiman Kozhabekovna is a strong musician with an interesting artistic vision, also known as a chamber ensemble member,” Timur Urmancheev emphasizes. “In Dvořák’s quintet, no instrument is a soloist; all, including the piano, are equal participants. Our collaboration is built on listening to each other. When the level of partnership is high, the music begins to live according to its own logic. This is true chamber music, which we love,” Timur Urmancheev concludes.
The concert begins at 19:00.
