Francophone Spring in Kazakhstan: Jazz concert held in Astana

For the 14th time, Kazakhstan hosts the Francophone Spring Festival, which is dedicated to expanding cultural cooperation between the countries and is taking place in seven cities across the country. This year’s program is intensive and diverse, according to the organizers, embassies of several countries and the French Alliance. The repertoire includes movie screenings, musical nights, exhibitions, as well as various contests. The festival will last for two months. A concert of a young Parisian jazz singer Gabi Hartmann, took place in Astana. The performer, who mesmerized the guests and residents of the capital with her talent, could not hide her emotions. She noted that her trip to Kazakhstan is a wonderful opportunity to open new horizons and get acquainted with the country’s traditions and customs.

“I am very honored and happy to be in Kazakhstan and play for the first time in Central Asia. I think it is very important to share the culture because an artist’s way to make this covers different cultures that will never meet otherwise. I am performing in Almaty, and I am going to meet musicians from the Symphonic Orchestra, we might play together. It’s an opportunity to share the two cultures,” Hartmann said.

“This year we traditionally hold cultural events in those cities where we have French cultural centers and French alliances. That is, in Astana, Almaty, Karagandy, and Shymkent. But this year, we decided to open the program in other cities as well. For example, we organized a photo exhibition, which was very successful, together with YEMAA cultural centers. We also held prosperous French film festivals in Oskemen,” said Alex Bortolan, advisor for cultural cooperation at the French embassy in Kazakhstan.