Italy and Kazakhstan celebrate cultural ties in Rome as Holy See embassy opens
Italian opera and Kazakh classical music shared the stage in Rome during the "Armonia della Musica" concert, organised to mark the opening of Kazakhstan’s Embassy to the Vatican and the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
The Grand Academic Hall of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory (Rome, Italy) - Copyright Copyright: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
Copyright Copyright: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
Published on 30/05/2026 - 12:15 GMT+2
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Italian opera and Kazakh classical music shared the stage in Rome during the "Armonia della Musica" concert, organised to mark the opening of Kazakhstan’s Embassy to the Vatican and the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
Held at the Grand Academic Hall of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, the concert featured works by Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini alongside compositions by Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi.
The evening also marked the 120th anniversary of Akhmet Zhubanov’s birth – Kazakhstan’s first professional conductor, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of Kazakh classical music.
The concert was conducted by Elmar Buribayev, Zhubanov’s great-grandson, while Serbian violinist Ilija Marinković presented Zhubanov’s aria for violin and orchestra.
Soloists from Astana Opera shared the stage with performers from the Santa Cecilia Conservatory, including Kazakh soprano Maria Mudryak.
“It was truly a special and unforgettable experience to perform on the stage of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory and represent Kazakhstan at this event,” Mudryak said.
Held in the heart of Rome, the concert reflected growing cultural ties between Kazakhstan and Italy through music, opera and shared classical traditions.
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