Legendary Kurmangazy Orchestra celebrates 90th anniversary
This year marks the 90th anniversary season of the Kurmangazy National Folk Instruments Orchestra, the pinnacle of the national music spirit of the Kazakh people which shows the world the Kazakh instrumental culture. Director of the orchestra Medet Kuanyshev told Kazinform News Agency about its history, repertoire, and cooperation.
He said the Kazakh instrumental and music culture is a pinnacle of Kazakh people’s spirituality. There are lots of art centers that show the world the Kazakh instrumental music culture. One of them is the Kurmangazy National Folk Instruments Orchestra. This year it turned 90.
The Kurmangazy National Folk Instruments Orchestra establishment is associated with Temirbek Zhurgenov, who devoted his life to the cultural and spiritual development of the nation. He was the first to hold the 1st Kazakhstan congress of Kazakh artists and poets bringing together unique figures of Kazakh arts. Other giants of the Kazakh music arts such as Ganbar Medetov, Zhappas Kalambayev, Lukhpan Mukhitov and others stood at the origins of the orchestra. Its first art director and conductor was Akhmet Zhubanov.
Currently, the orchestra unites over 80 professional musicians. Chief conductor of the orchestra is Abylai Tlepbergen, its arts director is Batyrzhan Myktybayev.
The orchestra’s repertoire consists of Kazakh kyui heritage, including kyuis of great Kurmangazy, Dauletkerei, Dina Nurpeissova, Nurgissa Tlendiyev, Shamgon Kazhgaliyev, and others as well as the works of the world classics.
As part of the celebrations, the orchestra developed the Orchestra Night project at the Almaty Theatre. It was called to promulgate national music arts and present quite a new view of classical and folk works. The project demonstrated the rich repertoire of the orchestra and its creative potential.
He also said the orchestra established ties with Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to hold joint events to promote national culture and arts. The talks are underway to hold performances in Europe, Turkiye and China.
