President Nazarbayev attended the Don Quixote ballet at the Kulyash Baiseitova theatre in Astana on Jan. 27, enjoying a light moment with the performers afterwards.
President Nazarbayev was invited to attend the “Don Quixote” premiere on January 9 by leading ballet stars Madina Basbayeva and Tahir Gatauov when he attended an awards ceremony for writers and artists in Almaty. After the January 27 premiere, the President and Culture Minister Mukhtar Kul-Muhammed met the performers and posed for photographs with them.
Chief choreographer Tursynbek Nurkaliev said the troupe was delighted to be honoured by the president.
Basbayeva and Gatauov in the star roles were accompanied in the ballet by Aigerim Beketayeva (lady), Rustem Seitbekov (toreador), Anel Rustemova (street dancer), Rahmetulla Nauanov (Don Quixote), Sayat Sarsembayev (Sancho Panza), Janat Sarsembayev (Lorenzo), Galia Mazhagulova and Balkhiya Zhanburchinova.
The artists thanked the president for his contributions to national culture including the recently constructed Astana Opera. It will open with Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Sleeping Beauty” directed by the famous choreographer Yuri Grigorovich in July 2013.
Theatrical sceneries and costumes for that presentation have already arrived from Italy. World famous art director Ezio Frigerio and Oscar-winning costume-designer Franka Skuarchapino will prepare the production.
On Feb. 2, Gatauov and Beketayeva, at the invitation of the International Union of Choreographers, performed in the World Ballet Stars gala concert in Germany. In mid-September, they will participate in three World Ballet Stars productions at the Paris Grand Opera.
