Seen and Heard Concert Review

Khazgaliev, Elgar, Brahms: Kazakh Gala Concert

It was with some curiosity and expectation that I went to Cadogan Hall for the fourth Kazakh Gala in celebration of Kazakhstan’s independence and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. I must however, confess my ignorance about Kazakhstan as a nation, its culture and history: and although aware that it declared its independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, I had no idea that they were currently celebrating their 16th Anniversary. The country became independent on 16th December 1991. I was also a little surprised on reading the programme. Being a Kazakh gala, with Kazakh artists Marius Stravinsky and Alfia Nakipbekova, it only displayed a short piece by a Kazakh composer. The other two compositions were respectively by Elgar and Brahms, two very different composers and not only because one was British and the other German. I had expected works by Russians but then, perhaps the choices were deliberate as Kazakhstan possesses a strong national identity.