Kazakh Folk Instrument Concert

The Expo has begun in Astana.  Besides the actual site with all of the pavilions, the city is geared up for visitors to come and experience Kazakhstan.  Yulia was looking at the different events and found some tickets to go and see the Tlendiyev Kazakhstan National Ethnic Folk Orchestra.  The orchestra plays traditional instruments (like the ones our university orchestra plays) and plays both Kazakh traditional music as well as classical music.

Yulia got tickets for us and told our friend, Ramona, who got tickets for herself and her girls as well as a few friends.  The concert was held at the new ballet theater, which is only about a mile from our house - within walking distance easily - and which we hadn't yet been to.  We dressed up and took the bus two stops and then had to walk about the same distance up the road. The theater is beautiful on the inside and out.  It is a modern style, but since the opera theater is classical, it is a nice contrast.

Some "plant" sculptures on our walk to the theater

On our walk to the theater. Behind us is a row of flags of all of the countries participating in EXPO

A view of the main EXPO building from the theater

Ladies

Our crew at the Ballet Theater

We didn't realize that the twins dressed this way until we got here. If you are wondering what's up, here is the deal: they are wearing Indian shirts (Native American) and Indian skirts (from India)

The chandeliers were incredibly beautiful.

Yulia and I waiting for the concert to begin.

Girls and Babushka before the concert. 

We had bought our seats online.  We sat down (about fifteen minutes early, so VERY early in Kazakh time) and had two groups of people come and try to sit in our seats.  They had hand-written tickets from the expo.  We guess that they had reserved blocks of ticket for there, but that the reservation system wasn't quite synced.  The ushers told us to stay and put the other groups in seats around us.  When the concert started, the theater was only about 2/3 full, which was a shame because it was a very nice concert.

The repertoire consisted of traditional songs with guests vocalists, classical operas, and classical instrumental music.  There were a few songs where they had different instruments doing solos and that was really neat.  We love the round clay flute especially.

Solo number with a violin-like instrument that is held between the knees.  This was probably the most beautiful song overall.

The final bow with all the conductors and singers. 

We had a wonderful time.  When the concert was over we walked to the new mall and had McFlurry ice cream at McDonalds and then walked the rest of the way home.  It was a lovely evening and a lovely concert.

On our walk to the Mega Mall we passed some EXPO buildings. They were still doing some work in places even though EXPO opened the day before.

McFlurries! Yum!