The festive concert Ult Rukhynyn Sardary, marking the 120th anniversary of the eminent Kazakh composer, conductor, scholar, and public figure Akhmet Zhubanov, was held to great acclaim at the Astana Opera’s Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the evening launched a series of commemorative events honouring the maestro, whose name is synonymous with the birth of Kazakhstan’s professional musical tradition.
Upon entering the Chamber Hall, the audience was greeted by an exhibition dedicated to Akhmet Zhubanov in the gallery space. The display, which captured the guests’ imagination, featured the composer’s personal effects, photographs on canvas, and collections of scores, alongside more than a dozen books documenting his life and creative legacy. Generously curated from the Zhubanov-Mambetov family archives, the exhibition offered the public a rare glimpse into history and a deeper connection to the era in which the great musician lived and worked.
The concert brought together aficionados of academic music alongside prominent cultural figures. Notably, members of the Composers Union of Kazakhstan attended the event, praising both the exceptional mastery of the performances and the sensitive approach taken toward the legacy of their illustrious predecessor – the founder of the first Kazakh folk instruments orchestra.
Aitkali Zhaiymov, the former artistic director and principal conductor of this orchestra, emphasised that Akhmet Zhubanov’s contribution to the nation’s art is invaluable. “I believe that the series of events organised by the Astana Opera to mark the anniversary of this outstanding figure is of immense significance for our country. He was a pioneer in the research and refinement of Kazakh national instruments, and founded the Kazakh folk instruments orchestra to unite the diverse kyui traditions from every region. Later, with the founding of the Almaty Conservatory, he established a formal system of education for national instruments. It is thanks to Akhmet Zhubanov that Kazakh youth have mastered these instruments at a high professional level, introducing the world to the songs and kyuis that emerge from the very depths of our history,” noted Aitkali Zhaiymov.
The evening’s programme featured rarely performed chamber vocal works by Akhmet Zhubanov, alongside music by his daughter Gaziza Zhubanova, his grandson Alibi Mambetov, and his great-granddaughter Karina Izmailova. The repertoire also included operatic arias and duets, art songs, and instrumental miniatures. Performing for the audience were the People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, baritone Shakhimardan Abilov, and Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, soprano Bibigul Zhanuzak, as well as soloists Assem Sembina, Madina Islamova, Ulpan Aubakirova, Sara Sadygulova, Sayan Issin, Alikhan Zeinolla, Merei Kadyrkhan, and Sultan Bakytzhan, among others.
The evening was further enriched by instrumental performances from violinist Kalamkas Jumabayeva, pianists Karina Izmailova and Shakhizada Kulseitova, and qobyz players Kenzhegul Mussayeva and Aziza Mussa-Beissengulova. A particular highlight was the performance by the Astana Opera Children’s Chorus, led by Altynganym Akhmetova, as well as appearances by young artists from the Specialised Music School for Gifted Children at the Kulyash Baiseitova Kazakh National University of Arts. The piano accompaniment throughout the evening was provided by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, Raushan Beskembirova.
“Akhmet Zhubanov is our beacon; his legacy is the benchmark that guides our musical development,” noted Raushan Iskakova, a regular at the opera house and a veteran of the Almaty District Veterans Committee. “Today’s concert left a profound impression on me. We see that so long as Akhmet Zhubanov’s music is performed, he remains with us. I was particularly moved by his instrumental miniatures. It is clear how deeply he loved the steppe and how keenly he felt its spirit. It was especially gratifying to see so many true connoisseurs of his work in the audience.”
The anniversary celebrations will continue at the Astana Opera on 1 and 2 May, with Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi’s opera Abai performed on the Grand Hall stage. Conducting the performances will be Akhmet Zhubanov’s great-grandson: the Astana Opera’s principal conductor and the production’s musical director, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, State Prize laureate, and globally renowned Maestro Alan Buribayev.
