Dimash Qudaibergen recently joined one of the most prestigious concert events of the year, sharing the stage with legendary opera singer Plácido Domingo and other stars of the classical crossover genre. Our editorial team attended the remarkable event in Budapest and had the opportunity to speak with Marianne Peller, the visionary behind the show.
Bathed in fresh spring greenery and unusually warm sunshine, Budapest welcomed guests on April 18, 2026. Elegantly dressed concertgoers made their way to the MVM Dome, nearly filling the 20,000-seat arena. The evening was promoted as a concert featuring “three stars on one stage”: Plácido Domingo, HAUSER, and Dimash Qudaibergen.
Unfortunately, health issues prevented the renowned Croatian cellist HAUSER from appearing in person. He nevertheless participated virtually. Although ticket holders were offered refunds, those who attended certainly had no reason to regret their decision.
Returning to His Roots
For nearly a decade, Dimash has captivated audiences around the world with spectacular and colorful performances. Known for his willingness to experiment across genres, he has increasingly returned to his musical roots in recent years. Trained as a classical vocalist, he has become more actively involved in projects featuring classical music and classical crossover repertoire.
Two years ago, he made a memorable appearance in Singapore at a charity concert featuring young winners of Hungary’s Virtuosos classical music competition, sharing the stage with both Plácido Domingo and HAUSER. Last year, he impressed audiences in Hanoi, Vietnam, performing alongside Domingo and Latvian opera star Kristine Opolais.
When Dreams Become Reality
How did Dimash become so deeply involved in the world of classical music, a field where he feels entirely at home but had previously visited only occasionally?
Marianne Peller, producer and director of three successful crossover concerts, explains:
“It’s a wonderful story. Some close friends told me about Dimash, an extraordinary singer who dreamed of meeting Maestro Domingo and performing a duet with him. When I first heard him, my reaction was, ‘My God, I’ve never heard anything like this.’ That was about four years ago.
“I spoke to Maestro Domingo, but his first reaction was, ‘I don’t know... isn’t he a pop singer?’”
She continues:
“At that time, Domingo didn’t know Dimash. As it turned out, his grandson knew him very well. I showed the Maestro videos of Dimash performing ‘Stranger’ and, of course, ‘SOS.’ Then Domingo’s son Álvaro walked in and said, ‘Oh, Dimash is my son’s favorite singer—your grandson’s favorite singer.’
“Domingo became curious. He said, ‘Really? That’s very good. If my grandson likes him, that’s an excellent recommendation for me.’
“After that, he started watching Dimash’s videos on YouTube. I showed him many performances. He was amazed and kept asking, ‘How can anyone sing like that? It’s incredible!’ Since Dimash truly wanted to sing with the Maestro, I decided to make it happen.”
In December 2023, at the Budapest Opera House, Dimash finally met Plácido Domingo. The legendary tenor greeted him enthusiastically:
“You know, my grandson discovered you. He’s a musician—a drummer. He’s 18 years old. Incredible… How is it possible? Your range… six octaves… We will make a wonderful duet. It will be fantastic!”
According to Peller, rehearsals began the very next day.
“I was convinced there would be real artistic chemistry between them, and I was right. Today they are good friends.”
Their first collaboration came during the Virtuosos talent competition, where Dimash served as a jury member. There, he and Domingo performed the famous duet from Bizet’s The Pearl Fishers.
A piece that would normally require months of preparation for an opera singer was mastered by Dimash in just a few days. The performance has since become a favorite among classical music lovers and has accumulated more than 2.5 million views on YouTube.
An Inspiration for Future Musicians
As producer of the Virtuosos competition, whose patron is Plácido Domingo, Marianne Peller has spent more than a decade helping young musicians launch their careers in classical music.
She deliberately brings together artists from different musical backgrounds.
“We’ve had Guy Pratt, bassist of Pink Floyd, on the jury. We’ve also worked with Harvey Goldsmith, one of the world’s leading concert promoters. I always try to invite people from different musical worlds.”
Dimash, who has served on judging panels for numerous vocal competitions, was invited into a new environment focused on instrumental virtuosity.
“Dimash is a genius,” Peller says. “I told him we would introduce him to the young performers in advance so he could study their work. To me, Dimash is music itself. If you are truly connected to music, the format doesn’t matter.”
She recalls that Dimash regularly shared valuable insights with young musicians, offering advice not only on music but also on stage presence and professionalism.
The Birth of a Beautiful Idea
Virtuosos allows young talents not only to receive guidance and evaluation but also to witness world-class performances firsthand.
The contestants saw not only the celebrated duet from The Pearl Fishers but also, a year later, a memorable performance of My Way featuring José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, HAUSER, and Dimash Qudaibergen.
Dimash and HAUSER also began experimenting with crossover performances that blended the human voice and cello into a unique musical dialogue.
Peller remembers:
“After that, we had real concerts in Vietnam and Singapore. When Dimash returned for the second time and performed My Way with José Carreras, Maestro Domingo, and HAUSER, that was when the idea of bringing together three generations of artists was born. I thought it was beautiful.”
Thousands of fans agreed. Tickets for the Budapest concert sold out within weeks, forcing organizers to open additional seating sections.
A Last-Minute Challenge
Everything seemed ready. The orchestra had rehearsed extensively, and the program had long been finalized.
Then, only six days before the performance, the organizers learned that HAUSER would be unable to attend.
“First, I turned to God,” Peller admits. “And second, we have a fantastic team. Broadway, the promoter behind major events including Andrea Bocelli’s concerts, helped us enormously.”
Rather than redesigning the entire program, organizers brought in virtuoso Hungarian cellist Bence Bankovi, a graduate of the Liszt Academy of Music. They also incorporated exclusive video performances recorded by HAUSER.
“Dimash had prepared so thoroughly,” Peller says, “that it was obvious from the beginning he could perform the duets on his own if necessary.”
From Classical Elegance to Crossover Energy
The concert opened in traditional classical style, with Plácido Domingo accompanied by the Hungarian Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra under the baton of American conductor and composer Eugene Kohn.
The arena erupted in applause when Dimash joined Domingo for O Sole Mio.
The two singers finished the piece arm in arm. Dimash then addressed both the audience and the Maestro:
“This is truly a special moment for me. I want to express my deepest respect for this legendary man. Because of you, I became a singer. Because of you, I became a musician. When I was five years old, I watched your performances, and your incredible career inspired my dream of becoming an artist. Thank you, Maestro. It is a great honor for me. Perhaps the most important achievement of my career is not worldwide recognition, but the opportunity to sing with you.”
The warmth of their friendship was evident throughout the evening.
As the concert progressed, the atmosphere shifted from classical elegance to the dynamic energy of crossover music. Dimash delivered powerful performances of SOS and Autumn Sorrow, while also introducing the audience to Kazakh culture.
Together with his brother Abylmansur, who accompanied him on guitar, Dimash performed the Kazakh ballad Mahabbat Ber Magan. The performance featured a dancer in traditional Kazakh attire and the Diars choir singing in Kazakh.
Dimash then thrilled the audience with Unforgettable Day, Show Must Go On, Stranger, and Durdaraz, combining extraordinary vocals with boundless stage energy.
One highlight came when Hungarian conductor Peter Pejtsik accompanied Dimash on the traditional Kazakh kobyz during Stranger. Later, Abylmansur amazed the audience with a dombra performance.
For the grand finale, Dimash surprised the crowd with a duet from The Phantom of the Opera alongside young Ukrainian vocalist Viktoriia Buliieva. The performance showcased both artists’ vocal and theatrical skills.
Another premiere followed: Bésame Mucho, performed by Plácido Domingo, soprano Elena Dudochkin, and Dimash in a playful and masterful interpretation.
A Promising Future
The concert was an undeniable success. The audience refused to let the performers leave the stage, eventually earning an encore performance of Bésame Mucho.
As for the future of the crossover project, Marianne Peller offered an encouraging hint:
“We already have plans to perform in major venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. We intend to take this project around the world.”
For now, fans eagerly await the release of the professional concert recording, which organizers promise will allow audiences everywhere to relive the unforgettable atmosphere of that extraordinary evening in Budapest.
Olga TERIKOV, DK Media Europe
Photos: DimashNews, Budapest
