The Astana Opera’s soloists, orchestra, chorus, and supernumeraries are going on tour to Aqtobe. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan and the leading international industrial company Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), the artists will present Gaetano Donizetti’s vibrant comic opera Don Pasquale at the Oner Ortalyghy Concert Hall on 31 May.
“Touring the cities of Kazakhstan is always a great joy for our team. Thanks to ERG’s support, the Astana Opera has performed across a number of industrial cities, offering thousands the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of classical art and enjoy a deeply moving experience. It is rewarding to see these encounters pave the way for future tours. Returning to Aqtobe after just one year is a testament to the local audience’s incredible enthusiasm and their desire to see us once again,” said Alexandr Sovostyanov, general director of the Astana Opera.
Donizetti’s opera buffa, Don Pasquale, composed in the bel canto style, comes to Aqtobe’s Oner Ortalyghy Concert Hall. Added to the Astana Opera repertoire in 2020 as part of the acclaimed ‘Piccolo Theatre’ project, the production captivates even those new to opera from the very first scene. Following a highly successful performance in Pavlodar this March, the company now brings this spirited masterpiece to Aqtobe. Free of mythological figures or heavy historical tragedy, the story unfolds in Rome, in the home of wealthy elderly bachelor Don Pasquale. Incensed that his nephew and sole heir, Ernesto, has refused a wealthy match in favour of the beautiful but penniless widow Norina, Don Pasquale resolves to marry and disinherit the young man.
The production features a stellar cast of soloists. Shyngys Rassylkhan, laureate of the Daryn State Youth Award, takes on the title role of Don Pasquale, while Norina is portrayed by Aizada Kaponova, recipient of the Order of Qurmet. They are joined by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Zhan Tapin as Ernesto, with Yerzhan Saipov as the cunning Dr Malatesta and Ramzat Balakishiyev as Carlino. Throughout the evening, the Astana Opera Orchestra and Chorus will be led by People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, Abzal Mukhitdin.
The tour programme also includes a concert in Khromtau on 29 May. The company will perform at the Culture and Leisure Centre of this key industrial hub near Aqtobe, returning for a second year. Last year, the venue opened its doors for the first time with the Astana Opera’s performance; the response was so overwhelming that the company gave two consecutive concerts in a single evening. This reinforces the commitment of the Astana Opera, as a flagship of the Kazakh culture, to ensuring that classical art reaches not only the residents of major cities but also those in the country’s regional communities.
The vocal and instrumental programme for the Khromtau concert has been curated by conductor Abzal Mukhitdin and staged by Yerenbak Toikenov. The audience will have the opportunity to enjoy masterpieces of both national and world classical music, performed by celebrated soloists Aizada Kaponova, Saltanat Muratbekova, Zhan Tapin, Yerzhan Saipov, and others. They will be joined by the company’s leading instrumentalists, including principal oboe, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Damilya Makhpirova, sub-principal first violin Anel Shakirova, flautist Alexandr Taraskin, and clarinettist Almaz Tokpanov. A highlight of the programme will be the performance of treasured national works, including Bulbul by the renowned composer Latif Khamidi, whose 120th anniversary is being celebrated nationwide this year, the beloved folk song Alqonyr, and Abai Qunanbaiuly’s Kozimnin Qarasy. These will be performed alongside global classics such as Rosina’s cavatina from Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. The presence of the chamber orchestra will bring exceptional beauty and power to the evening.
“We have supported these tours for several years now and have watched them grow from a one-off initiative into a highlight of the calendar for our employees and their families. This spring, the artists are performing in Aqtobe and Khromtau, following a recent visit to Pavlodar – all key locations for ERG. The fact that we see both new faces and those returning year after year, bringing their families, tells us this initiative truly resonates. It has become a core part of life at the company outside of the workplace. These cultural experiences offer a genuine chance to switch off and find fresh inspiration,” said Abylai Sadenov, general director of ERG in Kazakhstan.
In addition, the thematic photo exhibition enERGy of Earth will be on display at both venues: in the foyers of the Oner Ortalyghy Concert Hall and the Culture and Leisure Centre, showcasing the harmony between the world of art and the earth’s minerals.
While the primary audience in Aqtobe and Khromtau will be the employees and families of the Donskoy Mining and Processing Plant and the Aqtobe Ferroalloys Plant, the performances remain open to all residents and guests of the cities.
