The Operaliya International Music Festival is set to premiere an engaging new project for young audiences: a choreographic production of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. On 23 May, the Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra will perform under the baton of Maestro Ruslan Baimurzin at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation stage, joined by talented dancers from Astana’s Nutcracker Ballet School.
In the Pictures at an Exhibition suite, audiences in the capital will embark on a musical journey through a gallery of works by the painter and architect Viktor Hartmann. Comprising ten character pieces, the work vividly conveys the composer’s personal impressions of his close friend’s art: from the fairytale Baba Yaga and the majestic Bogatyrskiye Vorota, to the unsettling Gnomus and the bustling Limoges. Le Marché.
“This work is a definitive example of the synthesis of the arts. Mussorgsky succeeded in bringing painterly images to life through sound while maintaining a clear programmatic structure. The cyclical nature of the piece plays a vital role: the rondo-suite form, in which the Promenade intermezzo theme links various scenes, creates a sense of actually being present at the exhibition, moving from one painting to the next,” says Ruslan Baimurzin, recipient of the Order of Qurmet. “Mussorgsky employed an innovative musical language that influenced the development of music as a whole. It is important for us to show the deep psychological insight behind these sketches: it is a philosophical reflection on life, imbued with folk character and the spirit of the epics. The music captures both the atmosphere of a place and the essence of a character; it is this nuanced depth that we strive to convey in our production,” the conductor added.
The stage’s artistic imagery will be portrayed by the young dancers of the Nutcracker Ballet School. Maiya Amelicheva, the head of the school, is preparing the pupils for this significant premiere. She explains that the project was conceived from the outset as a dialogue between the arts: just as the music was born from the painter’s images, the production continues this conversation through the language of dance. The concept is rooted in the idea of ‘paintings come to life’. “We do not simply illustrate the music literally; we strive to convey the inner substance of each image, revealing it through the dramaturgy of perception – character, mood, and emotional state. At the heart of the production is a child learning how to truly see. In a modern world of constant distraction, we intentionally create a moment of stillness: the girl does not merely pass the paintings by, but peers into them, engages with them, and ultimately finds herself within the artistic space. Thus, Pictures at an Exhibition becomes an internal journey rather than a sequence of numbers – a transition from a superficial glance to a meaningful experience. Each movement – Gnomus, Il vecchio castello, Tuileries, Ballet des poussins dans leurs coques, Baba Yaga, Limoges. Le Marché, and Catacombae – represents an emotional state for the heroine: fear, curiosity, compassion, joy, anxiety, and, finally, acceptance,” says Maiya Amelicheva. “The figure of the Artist holds a special place – not as a literal character, but as a guide into a world of imagery and meaning. He leads the girl from external observation to internalised perception. To achieve this, our students first learn to see: to understand the rhythm and dynamics behind an image before translating it into movement. This is a vital milestone in their professional development, as they take to a major stage to work with profound musical material and a sophisticated narrative.”
As Maiya Amelicheva noted, this project has been a unique experience for the school. It is more complex in its form, deeper in its content, and demands a greater degree of discipline and stagecraft from the young performers. “In the Pictures at an Exhibition project, our pupils are taking part as guest artists, presenting an original ballet production. Our students consistently bring major works of classical music to life,” the teacher says, emphasizing the importance of creating bespoke choreography to enrich the children’s classical repertoire. “At the same time, we approach serious musical material with professional care, adapting it for young dancers without diminishing its artistic meaning. Preparation for the performance began in the summer and has continued throughout the school year, alongside our regular concerts. This is a significant, sustained effort by the entire team – teachers, children, and musicians alike – filled with both excitement and a deep sense of responsibility for the project’s success,” the head of the school shares.
“Our collaboration with the flagship of Kazakh culture, the Astana Opera, has flourished for several years. Our students have performed successfully on this stage in productions such as Le Carnaval des Animaux and Secrets of the Old Piano. Building on the success of these past collaborations, we are honoured to have the professional support of the Astana Opera once again for this latest project. We are delighted that this work has been included in the repertoire and will be performed alongside a full symphony orchestra. Our team is dedicated to ensuring the production achieves its fullest expression on stage. For us, the ultimate goal is to make classical music feel alive, accessible, and relatable to children – ensuring that audiences leave not only impressed, but with a new perspective on how to see, listen, and understand. We believe the true value of this project lies in the profound and thoughtful introduction of the next generation to the world of classical art,” concluded Maiya Amelicheva.
The production’s expressiveness will be enhanced by contemporary visuals and the application of neural networks in the stage design. The use of technology offers a fresh interpretation of the concert’s artistic imagery, aligning with the Year of Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence as declared by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Furthermore, innovations in scenography will make the musical journey through the exhibition even more spectacular.
The concert begins at 5 pm.
