Astana Opera's Don Pasquale Tour Dazzles Pavlodar with Sold-Out Show

A night of bel canto brilliance and comedic flair left 2,000 spectators spellbound. Discover how Astana Opera is redefining cultural access across Kazakhstan.

, and Administrator

2026 April 4 . 11:03 PM

1 min read

The image shows a painting of a group of people in a room, with some of them holding musical... — The image shows a painting of a group of people in a room, with some of them holding musical instruments. In the background, there are pillars and a wall, and at the top and bottom of the painting there is text. The painting is titled "The Concert at the Opera" by Edgar Degas.

Astana Opera's Don Pasquale Tour Dazzles Pavlodar with Sold-Out Show

Astana Opera has brought its acclaimed production of Don Pasquale to Pavlodar, drawing nearly 2,000 spectators to the Estai City Palace of Culture. The performance marked part of a wider tour, supported by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Culture and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), reaching 12 cities and regions since 2026. Audience members praised the live energy, music, and transformative talent of the cast.

The tour featured Gaetano Donizetti's Don Pasquale, an opera buffa directed by Talgat Musabayev. Lead roles included Saltanat Akhmetova as Norina, showcasing flawless bel canto technique, alongside Yerzhan Saipov (Malatesta) and Shynggys Rassylkhan (Don Pasquale), whose comedic timing and virtuoso singing captivated the audience. Nearly 100 artists and crew travelled for the event, delivering a seamless collaboration under Maestro Ruslan Baimurzina.

Beyond the performance, the daytime programme included an interactive concert from the *Music Paints and Tells* series and a themed photo exhibition of the artists. The tour builds on Astana Opera's *Opera for Everyone* initiative, which has offered free performances in eight regions since 2022. Recent projects also include the *Silk Road Opera Days* festivals in Taraz and Semey during 2024–2025.

The Pavlodar performance highlighted the growing reach of Astana Opera's touring programme, now spanning 12 cities. With sold-out venues and strong audience reactions, the initiative continues to expand access to classical opera across Kazakhstan. Future tours are expected to maintain this momentum, supported by ongoing partnerships with cultural and corporate backers.