From 17 March to 19 March 2025, the Astana Ballet Theatre, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, will be on tour in Pavlodar.
The Capital Theatre has prepared an exceptional programme for the audience, combining different genres and styles to create a unique synergy of ballet, symphony and opera. This cultural event will immerse art admirers in the atmosphere of true classics, where every movement and every chord reveal not only the aesthetic, but also the deep emotional side of ballet mastery, allowing the audience to experience the magic of symphony and dance.
The Astana Ballet Theatre will be performing the ballet “Carmen Suite” by Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin on the 17th and 18th of March 2025 at the Estay Palace of Culture in Pavlodar. It should be noted that the premiere of this production occurred almost 60 years ago on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, followed by a presentation in Havana, on the stage of the National Ballet of Cuba. The libretto and choreography were based on the eponymous novel by Prosper Mérimée, and were created by Cuban choreographer Alberto Alonso, with the ballet being staged by Timofey Lavrenyuk. Rodion Shchedrin’s musical transcription, based on the theme of Bizet’s opera, is performed with exceptional skill and passion, and its sound seamlessly combines the virtuosity of the composition with the subtle psychological nuances present in Bizet’s music and Prosper Mérimée’s novella.
In the modern ballet world, the Carmen Suite ballet is often regarded as a remarkable exemplar of its genre, and the role of the freedom-loving and rebellious Carmen, who lives by the laws of passion, is a significant creative success for selected ballerinas.
The second part of the programme will feature the one-act ballet “Triumph”, to the music of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, which has been staged by the talented young choreographer Ainur Abilgazina.
The choreographic interpretation of the work exquisitely combines grace and sublime emotionality, creating a spectacle that embodies the grandeur and solemnity of classical ballet. “Triumph” is more than just a dance moment – it is a real hymn to the art of classical ballet, at the peak of its beauty and perfection.
On 19 March 2025, Maria Mudryak, a star of the world opera scene and Pavlodar native, will be performing a concert with the symphony orchestra of the Astana Ballet Theatre at the Estay Palace of Culture.
At the concert, the audience will have the opportunity to experience the multifaceted world of opera performed by their famous compatriot. The program will feature a selection of masterpieces of Italian opera and the romance of Austrian operetta, as well as the rousing and passionate Spanish zarzuela
“I am incredibly happy I got the chance to give a concert in my home city of Pavlodar where I was born and raised. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Astana Ballet Theatre for another opportunity to perform with their outstanding symphony orchestra,” shared world opera diva Maria Mudryak, reflecting on her expectations.