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Ensemble

 

The West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra is a classical music ensemble based in the city of Oral, Kazakhstan. The orchestra was founded in 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, as part of a cultural revival in the region. The founding members of the orchestra were a group of local musicians who had previously played in various ensembles and orchestras in the Soviet era. They were joined by a number of young musicians who had recently graduated from music schools and conservatories in Kazakhstan and Russia. The first conductor of the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra was Yerzhan Dautov, a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory and a former conductor of the Kazakhstan State Symphony Orchestra. Dautov led the orchestra for its first ten years, during which time it established itself as one of the leading orchestras in Kazakhstan. Under Dautov's leadership, the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra performed a wide range of classical repertoire, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Rachmaninoff. The orchestra also commissioned and premiered new works by Kazakh composers, including Tles Kazhgaliyev and Gaziza Zhubanova. One of the highlights of the orchestra's early years was its performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1995, which was broadcast live on Kazakh television and received widespread acclaim. The orchestra also performed at the opening ceremony of the 1998 Asian Winter Games in Aktau, Kazakhstan, and toured extensively throughout Kazakhstan and Russia. In 2002, Yerzhan Dautov stepped down as conductor of the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra and was succeeded by Marat Bisengaliev, a renowned Kazakh violinist and conductor. Bisengaliev had previously led the Symphony Orchestra of India and the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan. Under Bisengaliev's leadership, the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra continued to expand its repertoire and reach new audiences. The orchestra performed at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Asian Winter Games in Astana, Kazakhstan, and toured Europe in 2012, performing in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In 2014, the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra was awarded the title of "Academic Orchestra" by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Kazakhstan, in recognition of its contributions to the development of classical music in the country. The orchestra has also received numerous awards and honors from local and international organizations, including the Order of Kurmet (Merit) from the President of Kazakhstan in 2017. Today, the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra is comprised of over 70 musicians, including many of the original founding members. The orchestra continues to perform a wide range of classical repertoire, as well as new works by Kazakh and international composers. In recent years, the orchestra has collaborated with a number of renowned soloists and conductors, including pianist Denis Matsuev, cellist Gautier Capuçon, and conductor Vladimir Spivakov. The orchestra has also performed at a number of international festivals, including the Almaty International Music Festival and the Astana Piano Passion Festival. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra has continued to perform and engage with audiences through online concerts and other digital initiatives.

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