On October 25, a festive concert “Mangi El”, dedicated to the Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was held at the Astana Ballet Theatre.
The evening’s program brought together the most accomplished examples of national musical and choreographic art, thereby becoming a symbol of celebration and pride in the country’s cultural heritage, DKNews.kz reports.
A notable highlight of the concert was the premiere of the choreographic miniatures “Qarlygash” and “Qurbylar”, which were incorporated into the divertissement “The Heritage of the Great Steppe”. The performances were presented to the audience for the first time accompanied by the symphony orchestra of the Astana Ballet Theatre. This gave the performance special expressiveness and emotional intensity.
Created by Aigul Tati, the Honoured Figure of Kazakhstan, to the music of Akhmet Zhubanov, the People’s Artist of the Kazakh SSR, the miniature “Qarlygash” is filled with spring warmth and tenderness. In Kazakh culture, the swallow bird, known as “qarlygash”, is a symbol of happiness, comfort and rebirth. Through the figurative, poetic language of dance, the production tells the story of dreams and the pursuit of happiness. The costume designer is Muslim Zhumagaliyev, an Honoured Figure of Kazakhstan.
The choreographic composition “Qurbylar”, which was also staged by Aigul Tati to the music of Ilyas Khojabekov, conveyed the atmosphere of youth and joy. Funny and enthusiastic friends come together to dance and share their happiness. The costumes were also the creation of Muslim Zhumagaliyev.
The Director of the Astana Ballet Theatre, Tair Karatayev, noted: “One of the concert’s key features was the performance of national miniatures accompanied by an orchestra. This lent the performances a unique atmosphere, depth and emotional intensity. The harmonious unity created by an elegant combination of choreography, live music, costumes and set design reveals the beauty of our culture.”
The chief conductor of the theatre, Arman Urazgaliyev, emphasised: “The title of the concert was not selected randomly. “Mangi El” symbolises the eternity and continuity of our culture. The objective of the program’s conception was to immerse the viewer in the atmosphere of national traditions, music and dance, and to awaken a sense of pride in our heritage.”
The theatre’s artistic director, Nurlan Kanetov, added, “In this new interpretation of The Heritage of the Great Steppe divertissement, the audience saw the premieres of the “Qarlygash” and “Qurbylar” miniatures. These productions reflect the richness and versatility of our culture, and the addition of live orchestral music gives them a special depth and emotional resonance.”
The Mangi El concert was a resounding success, serving as a true celebration of art where music and dance seamlessly intertwined, creating an atmosphere of inspiration, harmony, and profound love for the Motherland.
The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
