The conductor is the heart of the symphony orchestra. The form and concept of a musical performance come from the conductor’s head. The piece being performed is all down to the composer, but it is the conductor who decides how it should sound and be felt by the public. Thanks to the conductor, the orchestra works like a Swiss watch, mechanism and team that is capable of playing the most complex of pieces at any moment in time.
Aidar Abzhakhanov’s musical career began from the moment he was first impressed by concerts given by Svyatoslav Richter and Mstislav Rostropovich, “After hearing and seem them, I understood that I wanted to be involved in music all my life”.
Conductor and distinguished Kazakhstani figure Aidar Abzhakhanov is one of the most talented conductors in the post-Soviet community. His musical career is an example of continuous self-improvement, painstaking work, and a real dedication to duty. Aidar graduated from the Kurmangazy State Conservatory in Almaty, specialising in “Symphonic Conducting”. After his debut with the Kazakh State Symphony Orchestra, he joined the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg and became a pupil of the legendary conductor, Ilya Musin (graduating as a member of the classes led by A Titov and A Polishuk) and immediately received a conductor’s job with the largest theatre in the country, the K Baiseitova National Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Still as a young conductor, Aidar announced his arrival in the world of symphonic music by conducting a string chamber orchestra for Pope John Paul II during his first official visit to Kazakhstan in 2001. After the performance, the Head of the Catholic Church presented the conductor with an award for excellence.
Aidar Abzhakhanov’s international career began in 2005 with his participation in the Bartok Festival Savaria Symphony (Hungary) in master classes for Zoltan Pesko. In the same year, he took part in a masterclass led by Salvador Mas Conde at the Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra in Vienna (Austria), and in 2007, spent time as an intern with La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy. In 2010, in Bulgaria he was awarded an Emil Dimitrov souvenir medal. With each new competition and festival, he has earnt the respect and love of the critics and been recognised by audiences across the world.
Another proud moment for Aidar was being named a Distinguished Kazakhstani Figure by President Nursultan Nazarbayev in 2013 for his professional achievements and contribution to classical music across the world. This highest of awards in Kazakhstan is given to people who possess exceptional talent in their field. The President noted Aidar’s priceless contribution to bringing millions of people to the classics and popularising symphonic music among the younger generations.
Since 2013, he has been the conductor at the Astana Opera State Opera and Ballet Theatre. As a conductor and director, Aidar Abzhakhanov has put on a number of performances, including the Nutcracker and Swan Lake (Tchaikovsky); Giselle and Korsar (Adan), Coppelia (Delibes), Esmerelda (Pugni), Sylphide (Lovenskiold), Les Sylphides (Chopin), Carnaval (Schumann), Polovtsian Dances (from the opera Prince Igor, Borodin), La Bayadere and Don Quixote (Minkus) and others.
Many connoisseurs of symphonic music look forward to Aidar Abzhakhanov’s performances. Listeners feel an amazing talent combined with professionalism from the very first wave of the conductor’s baton. His experience, taste and musical feeling can add new shades of music to even the most complex of classical pieces. “Every time I get up on the stage, I have a goal – to bring emotion to the listener, convey the mood of the composer, and if I’m lucky, the listener experiences it and is happy. And that for me is a small victory”.
