April 13, 2023 – A stunning evening of the cultural pearls of Kazakhstan, as world-famous Ethno-Folk Ensemble Turan steals the show.
My inbox is an increasingly interesting place to hang out, and every once in a while, an incoming message with a difference piques my interest.
An invitation to come to an evening to experience the culture of Kazakhstan, with the main event a performance from Ethno-Folk Ensemble Turan.
I decided to accept, not do any research, and see what Kazakhstan had to offer. My expectations were not particularly high, but I think it is important to support such events, as Zagreb becomes a more international city – there is a lot going in the city that deserves greater exposure.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I certainly did not expect to witness what was easily the best concert I have been to in the last five years, if not longer.
The boys from Turan were simply stunning, with their unique Kazakh instruments, which they frequently interchange. The sounds they produced were simply stunning – I never thought a string instrument could mimic the sound a gentle breeze, for example – a perfect portrayal of life on the steppe.
But as outstanding as the music was, what stayed with me was just how much fun these guys were having playing together. They knew each other inside out, and watching their faces – a mixture of concentration and joy – was a wonderful experience.
Although Ethno-Folk Ensemble Turan were the main act, they were not alone,and some excellnent tenor singing accompanied by the piano and cello, made up below. For more details, see the official press release below.
There was also a great exhibition of Kazakh culture and a selection of traditional Kazakh delicacies. A sterling effort throughout, and rarely has an evening of culture aroused to a country about which one knew relatively little beforehand.
Congratulations and many thanks to the Embassy of Kazakhstan for the invitation and organisation.
On April 11, for the first time as part of the celebration of Nauryz Meiramy in Croatia, with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan, a concert was successfully held by the ethno-folk ensemble TURAN, whose unique work has been recognized by listeners all over the world.
In his welcoming speech, the Vice-President of the Croatian Parliament, Davorko Vidović, emphasized the importance of this cultural event, which enabled not only an introduction to the rich creativity of the Kazakh people, but also helped to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding between the countries.
The strong energy of the group, the virtuoso sound of classic kyuis, folk and original works in the unique genre characteristics of the ensemble and throat singing technique did not leave anyone in the hall indifferent and caused sincere admiration and thunderous applause from the Croatian public. Music lovers were amazed by the magical sound of kobyz, sybyzgy, zhetygen, sherter, dombra and other old Kazakh instruments.
On the stage of the concert hall of the Academy of Music in Zagreb, other soloists of the “Kazakhconcert” performed brilliantly – honored artist of Kazakhstan Aktoty Raimkulova, famous tenor Medet Chotabaev, famous pianist and concert major Dina Mirmanova, as well as cellist, master of studies of the Shanghai Conservatory Talgar Tolkynuly. The audience in the hall applauded the performances of the artists.
A special atmosphere of the evening was provided by the ethno-exhibition, in which the colorful interior decoration of the yurts was presented for the first time to the inhabitants of the Croatian metropolis. Objects of arts and crafts, Kazakh folk costumes, photographs and traditional delicacies of Kazakh cuisine showed the culture and life of the nomadic peoples of the Great Steppe, whose centuries-old history and rich heritage have caused great interest in the Balkans since the time of Marco Polo.
The event was attended by citizens of Kazakhstan, members of the Croatian Government, parliamentarians, representatives of business, diplomatic, academic and creative circles. A live broadcast on the YouTube channel was organized for guests who did not make it to the concert due to the full hall.
The held event not only contributed to the popularization of the cultural heritage of Kazakh nomads abroad, but also significantly increased interest in modern Kazakhstan. Many guests of the cultural evening expressed their desire to get to know this country better and visit it in the near future.
