Performance of Liturgical Hymns Set to the Music of P.I. Tchaikovsky Held at the Kazakh State Philharmonic in Almaty

January 28, 2025. Almaty. A concert dedicated to the 185th anniversary of the birth of the great Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was held in the concert hall of the Zhambyl Kazakh State Philharmonic.

The event was organized with the blessing of Metropolitan Alexander of Astana and Kazakhstan by the Department of Culture of the Almaty Diocese. The organizing committee was chaired by Oleg Ovchinnikov, an Honored Artist of Russia and a member of the Church-Public Council under the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia for the Development of Russian Church Singing. The event was coordinated by L.E. Goricheva, an Honored Cultural Worker of Russia.

Participants in the concert included the choir of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan under the direction of Honored Artist of Russia O.N. Ovchinnikov and the State Choral Chapel named after B. Baykadamov, led by Honored Artist of Kazakhstan B.K. Demeuov. Also performing was the Deputy Chairman of the Church-Public Council for the Development of Russian Church Singing, Artistic Director of the Moscow Synodal Choir, and Honored Artist of Russia, A.A. Puzakov.

Among the distinguished guests of the festive event were Bishop Gennady of Kaskelen, Administrator of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan, students of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary, public figures, representatives of the artistic community, leaders of ethnocultural associations, as well as faculty and students from secondary and higher musical institutions of the Southern Capital.

The audience was presented with renowned musical works by P.I. Tchaikovsky set to the poetry of classical poets.

Listeners were delighted by the virtuoso performances of soloists and international competition laureates Sofiyana Blagodarnaya and Roza Bakbergenova.

The highlight of the evening was the performance of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom by the combined choir of the Metropolitan District of Kazakhstan and the B. Baikadamov State Chapel, under the direction of A.A. Puzakov.

At the conclusion of the event, Protopriest Evgeny Ivanov, Acting Rector of the Almaty Orthodox Theological Seminary and Head of the Information Department of the Metropolitan District, delivered words of gratitude to the administration of the philharmonic, the organizers, and all participants of the evening.

The video recording of the concert was carried out by the television studio of the Orthodox Church of Kazakhstan, Semirechye (Director – Honored Cultural Worker Victoria Posadneva, Operator – A. Schmidt). Photography was conducted by Information Department staff member A. Shcheglov.