To celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence, the Dina Nurpeisova Academic Orchestra of Folk Instruments from Atyrau held a major concert on Dec. 15 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Parisians got to experience the beauty of some of Kazakhstan’s traditional music compositions, the kuis, written by Kurmangazy, Tattimbet, Latif Hamidi and Nurgisa Tlendiyev.
“These are very interesting works. They are not structurally similar to European music. I think the French people will understand. In 1928,our great singer Amre Kashaubayev participated in an exhibition in the USSR for the first time.There he sang several Kazakh songs. These folk songs were also performed at this concert,” Chief Conductor of the Academic Orchestra Orak Zhaurov said.
UNESCO included the Kazakh kui on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List in November. Subsequently, musicians focused on the kuis at this concert.
“This music is very beautiful and was performed very well here at the event. The Kazakh kui was included on the UNESCO list because it is a living tradition that has never been interrupted. It shows the people’s national identity,” Perez De Arminan, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Culture, commented.
“For me, this is a discovery. The music is great. I loved all of the performances; it’s a fantastic evening! I enjoy this fantastic music,” Professor of Paris-Ouest University Augustin Holl said.
For the French people, the performance brought new experiences and unforgettable emotions. The audience did not want to let the artists leave the stage, asking them to play their kuis once more.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to France Nurlan Danenov said that the ceremony was the final segment of the Season of Culture of Kazakhstan in France. The season was praised by both Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and François Hollande during Hollande’s recent visit to Astana.
Musicians from Kazakhstan also performed in the French town of Fontainebleau on Dec.14.
Before the concert, Professor, Knight of the Order of the Academic Palms, Laureate of the Peace and Spiritual Consent Award of Kazakhstan Albert Fischler, who also delivered a series of lectures on the culture and literature of Central Asia and Kazakhstan at the Al Farabi Kazakh National University,addressed his countrymen and spoke about Kazakhstan and its traditional sounds.
Fontainebleau Mayor Frederick Wallet noted the importance of inter-regional cooperation in all fields, particularly in culture. According to him, residents of Fontainebleau praised the artist’s performances.
This was the second time this year that the Atyrau orchestra went on a European tour. Last spring, the artists gave Nauryz performances in Turkey, Germany and Austria.
