Adolphe Adam’s Giselle will be presented at the Astana Opera on 7 and 10 June as part of the Operaliya International Festival. Staged by Altynai Asylmuratova, the artistic director of the Astana Opera Ballet, the production will feature an international cast. The performance on 10 June will star guest principals from the Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich, Germany): Spanish-Bulgarian ballerina Elisabeth Tonev and American dancer Julian MacKay.
Giselle is a highlight of the Astana Opera repertoire, presented in a definitive production by global ballet legend, People’s Artist of Russia Altynai Asylmuratova. Her interpretation remains a benchmark for leading ballerinas worldwide, celebrated for its psychological depth, impeccable sense of style, and the refined artistic taste that has earned standing ovations on global stages.
The upcoming performances have generated significant anticipation, as 10 June marks the first time this creative partnership from Germany will take the Astana Opera stage, reinforcing the festival’s status as a platform for cultural dialogue. For the local audience, the appearance of these Munich-based principals offers a unique opportunity to witness a European interpretation of the iconic roles of Giselle and Duke Albrecht.
Elisabeth Tonev’s career is defined by a diverse palette of roles performed during her tenure with the Dutch National Ballet. After receiving the prestigious Konstanze Vernon Prize, she joined the Bayerisches Staatsballett as a principal. Today, alongside the title role in Giselle, she performs major classical roles worldwide, including in Minkus’ Don Quixote, and Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty. Tonev’s repertoire also spans masterpieces by 20th-century titans: George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, John Neumeier, and John Cranko. Furthermore, she highly values her collaborations with renowned contemporary choreographers such as Hans van Manen, David Dawson, William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, and Alexei Ratmansky.
By her own admission, Tonev is drawn to intense dramatic roles that demand deep emotional commitment. Her artistic philosophy centres on the courage to be oneself on stage and to transform personal experience into high art. “When you dance, you have to get personally involved and dare to be yourself. In the end, individuality is what it’s all about,” the ballerina emphasizes.
Sharing the stage with her is the award-winning Julian MacKay, whom critics have dubbed a ‘young Apollo’ for his flawless academic technique. His achievements include victories at five prestigious international competitions, including the Prix de Lausanne, gold medals in Istanbul, and the Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York. He also secured historic wins for an American dancer at the Sochi World Ballet Competition and the Beijing International Ballet Invitational. MacKay launched his international career as the youngest-ever dancer to join the Royal Ballet in London. During his tenure with the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg, he achieved international guest star status, performing on major stages across London, Tokyo, New York, Moscow, and Shanghai. MacKay later solidified this reputation as a principal with the San Francisco Ballet. Today, he performs frequently with leading companies across Europe and Asia as a guest principal, including the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and Tokyo’s K-Ballet Company. A versatile classical dancer, MacKay delivers virtuoso performances in masterpieces by Marius Petipa, Pierre Lacotte, and Christopher Wheeldon, while his repertoire also features iconic works by 20th-century masters – Balanchine, Neumeier, and Cranko – alongside contemporary choreographers such as William Forsythe, Angelin Preljocaj, Alexei Ratmansky, and Edward Clug.
“I have always had great respect for the Astana Opera. I was impressed by the level of the dancers when I first saw the company perform while we were both on tour in Moscow for a ballet gala, and over the years I have continued to follow its growth,” says Julian MacKay, a principal from the USA. “It is my first time on this stage, and I am very happy to perform Giselle here, as it is one of my favourite ballets; I first danced it at 19, and now, at 28, I have performed it all over the world, learning from so many iconic ballet legends. It is a pleasure to bring all of that into this performance for the wonderful audience in Astana,” concludes Julian MacKay.
On 7 June, the principal roles will be performed by Kazakh stars – Astana Opera principal dancers, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Aigerim Beketayeva (Giselle) and Dias Kurmangazy (Duke Albrecht).
Altynai Asylmuratova places particular emphasis on nurturing the next generation of dancers, systematically providing promising talent with opportunities to master the classical repertoire. These festival performances will allow young dancers to demonstrate their artistry alongside established masters. Notably, the interpolated pas de deux will be performed for the first time by Darya Mitrofanova and Alikhan Aubakir, while the role of Wilfrid is being prepared by Akhmet Kabkenov. The company, supernumeraries, and symphony orchestra will perform under the baton of conductor Elmar Buribayev.
Performances are scheduled for 7 June at 5 pm and 10 June at 7 pm.
