ASTANA – The programme to celebrate Astana’s 20th anniversary this year will include performances by more than 500 artists from around the world.
A scene from “Turandot” opera staged by the Novosibirsk Theatre at the Astana Opera House on Dec.1 2016. Photo credit: Astana Opera.
“The Parade of Capitals international cultural project with the participation of leading creative teams and organisations, popular artists and famous athletes from 20 countries will be a united event to celebrate the anniversary. The project implies a grandiose joint production of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot opera by the Astana Opera House and the China National Opera House directed by eminent director Timur Bekmambetov,” said Director of Department of Culture and Arts of Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sports Almaz Nurazkhan.
The performances will form the Astana – Voice of the Universe festival, which is part of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s initiative to present Kazakh culture international.
The Astana Musical Theatre will present “Notre Dame de Paris.”
Astana will host the Eurasian Dance international festival of ballet art and the Astana World Theatre Festival for the second time this year. The festive programme will also feature some international festivals, such as the Spirit of the Dance festival of contemporary ethnic music and dance, the Nomad Way festival of nomadic culture, as well as Astana Azil Stars and Baurzhan humour festivals. To promote a culture of reading, the city will also host the Astana 2018 – Reading Capital of Eurasia event, the World Reading Congress, the “20 World Libraries in Astana” exhibition of documentary books and rare collections and the Forum of Children’s Writers.
The city’s Ethnic Village National Cultural Complex will also present theatre and circus shows called “Trapezoid School” and “Alpamys.”
