World ballet star Bakhtiyar Adamzhan, Astana Opera’s principal dancer, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, garnered significant acclaim at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in Minkus’ La Bayadère. The principal portrayed the warrior Solor – one of the ballet’s demanding lead roles – across three appearances on 4, 6 and 7 February.
The role of Solor is a formidable dramatic challenge, demanding both virtuoso technique and profound emotional range. Adamzhan captures the inner turmoil of a hero torn between his duty to the Rajah’s daughter and his devotion to the bayadère Nikiya (Iana Salenko, principal dancer of the Staatsballett Berlin) with a masterful command of line and plastique. By infusing technical precision with a textured physicality, he made the visceral weight of his character’s impossible choice palpable in every unfolding movement.
“I am profoundly grateful to the Italian audience for such a warm reception. It is a great honour to perform in Rome – the Eternal City – and to represent Kazakhstan. Working with the choreography of Benjamin Pech, Étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet and a true master of his craft, was a significant opportunity. To be invited to perform alongside a global star like Iana Salenko and the dancers of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Ballet is a privilege; such invitations are rare, and one must constantly prove their standard to remain in demand on the international stage. The challenge was intensified by the need to master the production and integrate with the company on a very tight schedule. Furthermore, the stage here features one of the steepest rakes in the world, which fundamentally alters a dancer’s physical equilibrium – technique, jumps and turns must all be recalibrated. While an unseasoned dancer might falter under such pressure, my years on the international circuit – performing on diverse stages and with various partners – have instilled a necessary resilience. Despite these technical demands, the performances were held at an exceptionally high level,” shared Bakhtiyar Adamzhan.
Bakhtiyar Adamzhan is truly beloved by the Roman public, who know him well and have applauded his previous appearances on this stage in Notre Dame de Paris (2021, 2022) and Spartacus (2019). On this occasion, the audience once again showered the Kazakh principal with a standing ovation, appreciative of his technical mastery and stylistic purity in the classical repertoire. The performance also sparked a wave of glowing praise across social media from fans and followers alike.
“Power that takes your breath away,” Gianfranco Giordano shared on social media, describing Adamzhan’s performance.
A correspondent from the specialist Italian publication RadioDanza, who attended the performance, described the Kazakh principal as ‘magnetic and impeccable’.
This choreographic version of La Bayadère was staged by Benjamin Pech after Marius Petipa, created specifically for the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in 2023. The production showcases sets by Ignasi Monreal, costumes by Anna Biagiotti and lighting by Vinicio Cheli. The Orchestra of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma was led by French Maestro Fayçal Karoui.
“The choreography is distinguished by its stylistic refinement and engaging nuances, which made it particularly interesting to perform – especially the new adagio in the first act. Broadly speaking, expanding one’s repertoire with new choreographic versions and productions is always beneficial for a dancer. Due to weather conditions, I arrived a day later than scheduled, so I had to master the material within an extremely compressed timeframe,” the dancer explained.
Bakhtiyar Adamzhan was left with very positive impressions from his guest appearance.
“It was deeply rewarding to receive such high praise from the choreographer for the professionalism shown in mastering the complex choreography on such a tight schedule. I have always preferred a process where a choreographer never has to repeat a correction; I strive to assimilate every detail on the first pass. To me, this is a matter of respect for both the ballet master and oneself. When you live in Kazakhstan and travel to perform abroad, you carry a profound sense of responsibility for your country. I notice that many colleagues based in Europe may not share this same perspective, but for us, it is a defining characteristic of our artistic identity. While many stars build their careers abroad, I represent Astana Opera and Kazakhstan. I feel a duty to uphold the highest standards of our nation’s artistry,” the principal dancer concluded.
His participation in a production at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma – one of Europe’s most prestigious and historically significant opera houses – highlights the exceptional calibre of the Kazakh dancer and his commanding international stature. Adamzhan’s schedule for the year is already densely packed, with Japan, the UAE and Australia among the many nations awaiting the Astana Opera principal.
