Astana Opera Enters 10th Anniversary Season in 2023 With Impressive Repertoire
ASTANA – From the international tour performance of the Boris Eifman ballet to the premieres of Jiří Kylián’s “Petite Mort” and Herman Severin Løvenskiold’s “La Sylphide,” the Astana Opera’s tenth anniversary season lineup could be the theater’s most engaging yet. “This is an anniversary season for the opera house, so we have already held a…
On the Move With a Home in Tow – Nomadic Lifestyle Made Possible by Kazakh Yurt
ASTANA – For hundreds of years, the nomadic rhythm of life was defined by mobility and practicality even in the choice of dwelling. The Kazakh yurt, also referred to as kiyiz ui (felt home), is a portable, weather-resistant, eco-friendly house that enabled traditional Kazakh herders to maintain a nomadic lifestyle that had them spending winters…
Experts Discuss Challenges and Opportunities Facing Central Asia Through 2030 in Astana
ASTANA – Leading experts on strategic studies from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan discussed the challenges and opportunities the Central Asian states might face in this decade at the Central Asia 2030: Visions of the Future conference in Astana on Jan. 20. Kazakh Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yermukhambet Konuspayev started the session by…
President Tokayev Announces March 19 as Mazhilis Election Day After Dissolving Lower Chamber
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced early elections to the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Parliament on March 19, after he dissolved the chamber and terminated the powers of the maslikhats, local administrative bodies, reported Akorda press service. Tokayev proposed holding elections to the Mazhilis and maslikhats in the first half of last year…
Respublica Party Seeks to Establish Effective Governance in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – The newly registered Respublica party will be advocating for a modern, high-tech national ecosystem and a more inclusive society made possible by the dawn of the era of digitalization and cognitive technologies, according to the party’s platform. The party was founded by popular Kazakh entrepreneurs and public figures and announced its official registration…
Kazakhstan Wins Two Golds in Biathlon and Ski Jumping, Remains Unbeaten in Ice Hockey at FISU 2023
ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s team continues its winning streak with two gold medals in biathlon and ski jumping, and an undefeated ice hockey team that is set for playoffs at the 2023 FISU (Federation Internationale du Sport Universitaire) World University Games, which runs from Jan. 11–22 in Lake Placid, the United States of America. Over 1400…
Uzbekistan to Showcase 17 Historical Exhibits at Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia
ASTANA – Uzbekistan will display 17 exhibits reflecting the country’s cultural heritage at the First Islamic Arts Biennale in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah for three months from Jan. 23 to April 23, reported the Uzbek Foreign Ministry press service. Organized by the Diriyah Biennale Foundation and the Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia, the biennale intends…
CEC Announces Preliminary Results of Senate Election in Kazakhstan
ASTANA – Twenty senators representing 17 regions and three cities of national significance were elected on Jan. 14 to the Senate, an upper chamber of the Kazakh Parliament, according to the preliminary results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC). This year, 55 candidates competed for the 20 open seats in the Senate. The elected…
Kazakh President Tokayev Addresses SDGs, Food and Water Security at Voice of Global South Summit
ASTANA – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the need to pursue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, food and water security in a joint effort with other countries at the Voice of Global South virtual summit on Jan. 13, reported Akorda press service. India’s Voice of Global South summit on Jan. 12-13 brought together over…
New Book Explores History and Sights of Kazakhstan’s Abai Region Through Photos
ASTANA – The new book “Sacred Land of Abai,” written by renowned journalist Alla Belyakina, offers a visual exploration of the Abai Region, a land with rich history and the birthplace of great Kazakh figures, such as the poet Abai Kunanbayev and writer Mukhtar Auezov, reported the region’s press service on Jan. 10. The book…
Lineup of International Musicians to Perform at Vienna Classics Festival in Astana Opera Revealed
ASTANA – Astana Opera will gather an impressive lineup of guest musicians from Japan, Mongolia, Israel, and Estonia at the Vienna Classics Festival, one of the few major cultural events set to go ahead this January in Astana starting from Jan. 13. The program for the classical music festival features the works of the great…
Like Father, Like Son: Murat Auezov Was a Steward of His Father, Kazakh Classic Writer Mukhtar Auezov’s Literary Legacy
ASTANA – Last year was the 125th anniversary of writer Mukhtar Auezov, one of Kazakhstan’s greatest literary figures, followed by another anniversary this year – the 80 year celebration of his son, Murat Auezov, on Jan. 1, which gave Kazakh society another opportunity to explore the creativity of the former from his son’s perspective. No…
Orteke Kazakh Art: Strings That Tie Music and Puppetry Together (Video)
ASTANA – An interplay of musical performance and a tiny bit of puppetry magic is unveiled in the ancient Kazakh traditional orteke art form, which last month was included in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the hands of a skillful dombra…
Astana Opera to Premiere Kalkaman-Mamyr Love Story in New Opera-Ballet Genre
ASTANA – The Astana Opera is staging a premiere of “Kalkaman-Mamyr” in a new genre combining elements of opera and ballet, a few days ahead of the New Year celebration on Dec. 28 and 29, reported Astana Opera press service. The opera-ballet is an adaptation of a prominent Kazakh poet Shakarim Kudaiberdiuly’s tale of two…
Croatian Tourism and Sports Deputy Minister Reveals Ambitious Plans with Kazakhstan to Develop Tourism, Launch Direct Flight to Croatia
ASTANA – The launch of a direct flight between Kazakhstan and Croatia is among the key initiatives to enhance the cooperation in tourism between the two countries in the upcoming year, said the State Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Croatia, Tonći Glavina in an interview with The Astana Times, as part…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 100 Years of Kazakh Novelist and WWII Veteran Azilkhan Nurshaikhov
ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates a century since the birth of Azilkhan Nurshaikhov, a Kazakh writer and journalist on Dec. 15. His writing had a rare depth of vision and attentiveness to the characters around him, probably derived from his experience as a WWII frontline soldier. Nurshaikhov is best known for the novel “Years of Joy…
UNDP, Kazakh Association of Agro and Rural Tourism Conduct Training Seminars on Cultivating Tourism in the Regions
AKMOLA REGION – As interest in rural or agricultural tourism grows, the Kazakhstan Association of Agro and Rural Tourism (KAART) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a series of training seminars in rural areas to educate farmers about the advantages of sustainable agro and rural tourism. More than 100 farmers participated in the…
Christmas Charity Bazaar Held By ASA in Astana Raises More Than $80,000
ASTANA – Good news and tidings from the Ambassadors Spouses Association (ASA), the organizers of the 13th Christmas Charity Bazaar, that raised 38.5 million tenge (US$81,500) at the charity event on Dec. 4. All proceeds will go to 35 charities in Kazakhstan. The Christmas bazaar filled the open space of the Radisson Hotel Astana with…
Astana Ballet Premiers “Snow Queen,” Festive Family Treat Ahead of Winter Holidays
ASTANA – The Astana Ballet theatre presented its last premiere for 2022, “The Snow Queen” – a ballet inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s much-loved fairytale that invited attendees to a winter wonderland on Dec. 3. The ballet begins with what promises to be one’s journey back to their childhood, where the icy queen meets the…
Shertpe Kui Festival of Kazakh Traditional Music Fathoms Heritage of Steppe Rhythms
ASTANA – Kazakh national music kui, traditionally played on dombra or kobyz, captivates fans from all over Kazakhstan. The music has become so popular that it prompted the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Sport to organize a festival of traditional music Shertpe Kui that took place in Almaty during Dec. 1-3, promoting the music genre…
Kazakhstan Celebrates 355 Years of Prominent Kazakh Judge and Mediator Kazybek Bi, Honors His Universal Relevance
ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates 355 years of arguably one of the greatest Kazakh judges and a master of the word, Kazybek bi (bi – noble judge), who used language to unite the Kazakh people under one ruler and settle cross-border, regional and local disputes. Kazakhstan is home to several of the region’s greatest orators and…
Togyzkumalak World Championship in Aktobe Shines Light on Ancient Kazakh Board Game Where Intelligence and Tradition at Play
ASTANA – The sixth Togyzkumalak (nine pellets) World Championship started in Aktobe on Nov. 21 showcasing the traditional Kazakh board game also known as the “chess of the steppes” or the “algebra of the shepherds.” Spanning over a week until Nov. 27, the championship gathered 80 professional players from 20 countries, including the United States,…
Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar Back in Astana Celebrating the Spirit of Giving
ASTANA – After two years of social restrictions, coming together has never felt more vital for the Christmas Charity Bazaar, the largest charity event organized by the Ambassadors Spouses Association (ASA) on Dec. 4 at the Radisson Hotel in Astana. The ASA President Lenise Correa Barbosa spoke to The Astana Times about the history of…
Tokayev Announces Senate Election Date, Approves Agriculture Development Plan
ASTANA – Newly re-elected President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the date of the Senate, the upper house of the Kazakh Parliament, election for Jan. 14, 2023, and approved the rural development plan for the next five years, following the inauguration ceremony on Nov. 26. “Now is not the time to celebrate the election victory, but to…
International Observers Commend Voter Turnout, Report No Violations
ASTANA – International observers highlighted a relatively high voter turnout and reported no serious violations that could impact the Nov. 20 election results. Almost all polling stations completed their mission in Kazakhstan at 8 p.m. Astana time. This year, Kazakhstan’s CEC accredited 641 international observers, including 532 observers from 10 international organizations as well as…
