On February 12, 13 and 14, Astana Opera will present the ballet Beethoven – Immortal – Love, a philosophical production exploring the life and inner world of the great composer. The orchestra will be conducted by People’s Artist of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin, with the ballet company led by People’s Artist of Russia Altynai Asylmuratova.
The production portrays Beethoven as a symbol of artistic genius and spiritual resilience, shaped by deafness, solitude and unfulfilled love. Choreographer and librettist Raimondo Rebeck builds the ballet as an allegory, introducing personified forces that defined the composer’s life: Love, Illness and the Muse.
The role of Beethoven will be performed by principal dancer Bakhtiyar Adamzhan and soloist Galymzhan Nurmukhamet. Love is danced by principal dancers Aigerim Beketayeva and Madina Unerbayeva, Illness by Serik Nakyspekov and Sultanbek Gumar, and the Muse (Euterpe) by Sofiya Adilkhanova and Adelina Tulepova.
According to Adamzhan, the ballet presents Beethoven as a single internal universe, where each character represents a part of his soul. The production focuses on universal themes of struggle, inspiration, loss and inner breakthrough.
The musical score is based on works by Ludwig van Beethoven, with additional compositions by Bach, Haydn and Mozart. Contemporary sound elements by Dirk Haubrich and a live piano solo by Sultan Ibragimov add a modern dimension.
The visual concept was created by an international team led by Japanese designer Yoko Seyama, using large-scale projections, light and shadow to reflect the composer’s inner world.
Performances begin at 19:00 on February 12 and 13, and at 17:00 on February 14.