Last Sunday, Astana Opera marked its first performance of the season at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation with a highly successful presentation of Time-Honoured, a large-scale concert from the audience-favourite Screen Melodies series. 
The acoustics of the main auditorium offered the public a completely fresh perspective on familiar scores. While soundtracks like these often serve as background accompaniment at home or in the cinema, this live performance elevated them to the very centre of the evening’s programme.
At the podium, the Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra was led by maestro Ruslan Baimurzin, a recipient of the Order of Qurmet. Showing his versatility, the conductor also performed as a dombyra virtuoso, presenting Tolegen Mukhamejanov’s ‘Childhood’ from the film A Wolf Cub Among People and Nurgissa Tilendiyev’s legendary kyui ‘Aqqu’. 
The evening featured performances by Astana Opera soloists. Opera company stars, including recipient of the Order of Qurmet Aizada Kaponova, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Rassul Zharmagambetov, Nazym Sagintay, Ulpan Aubakirova, Talgat Allabirinov, Artur Gabdiyev, as well as Ardak Sabyr, performed in succession on a stage transformed by theatrical sets. Street lamps, benches, a cradle, and many other props combined to evoke the atmosphere of a film set. The evening was further enriched by the El Voice vocal ensemble, whose harmonies paired with the orchestra, alongside a guest appearance by saxophonist Manarbek Abayev.
The programme showcased the finest works from the golden age of Kazakh and Soviet cinema. The audience responded with a resounding ovation for the evocative folk song from the film Gaukhartas, the infectious rhythms of the musical film Dos-Muqasan, and Aleksandr Zatsepin’s iconic ‘The Sky Is Blue Above Me’ from the film Our Dear Doctor. Notably, project creator Alikhan Idrissov infused this vintage music with a contemporary vitality. The process required months of meticulous transcription and arrangement, with the primary objective of preserving the original essence of each score while presenting them in new orchestral versions that remain accessible and engaging even to the youngest listeners. 
A particularly poignant highlight of the evening was the appearance of composer Tomas Tomassov. His acclaimed hit from Kazakhstan’s first television series, The Crossroads, was beautifully interpreted by Ulpan Aubakirova, Serik Abdulla, alongside the opera house’s chorus and orchestra.
“Developing a project like this can take anywhere from six months to an entire year. Transcribing every single note for a live orchestra involves an immense amount of work. What sounds convincing on a computer can easily lose its magic in a concert hall. However, seeing the audience’s engagement, hearing their applause, and knowing that these programmes remain in the repertoire for years to come – that is the ultimate reward,” shared Alikhan Idrissov, who also delivered a brilliant performance at the piano.
Looking ahead, Astana Opera’s artists will present a series of gala opera evenings, ballet performances, and children’s programmes at the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, which are certain to attract full houses.