Crossroads of culture in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬
Kyrgyzstan and all countries of Central Asia dealt with major upheavals in the early 90s. These newly independent states stand in a crossroad of cultures where their own multi-layered cultures meet their historical ties with Russia and newly incoming foreign cultural influences and instruments of soft power.
This a real challenge. Yet, Central Asian countries, with their tradition of crossroads and tolerance, may turn out to be better suited than mosts to tackle a more complex world, preserve their identity and capture the right essence of influences coming from abroad.
As I was walking in Bishkek, the sheer amount of spectacles recently held, held at the time or to be held in a near future shows the appetite of the Kyrgyz for culture.
But more importantly, the diversity illustrated this competition and crossroads.
- 🇰🇬🇷🇺 Чолпон, a ballet composed by a russian, but based on Kyrgyz Choreographic art, and has been a success in Kyrgyzstan for the last 60 years
- 🇰🇬 ЧОҢ КЕРБЕЗ based on Toktogul’s Poetry, providing valuable wisdom for today’s generation
- 🇦🇹🇮🇹 Don Giovanni, Mozart’s opera
- 🇷🇺 Prince Igor, from Alexander Borodin
- 🇷🇺 Master and Margarita, from Bulgakov
- 🇰🇬 🌍 Zhenish Ysmanov’s concert, symphony and folk orchestra
- 🇰🇬 Жамийла, based on Aitmatov’s story about love and many values, in a modern and avant-garde version
- 🇰🇬 Эсте калган обондор, a retro concert about melodious Kyrgyz tunes
- 🇮🇹 Spartacus, ballet
- 🇯🇵 Anime Symphony, Japan
- 🇷🇺 Queen of spades, from Pushkin
- 🇰🇬 Exposition of ethnical fashion
- 🇺🇸 🇷🇺 Шоколадная фабрика, Charlie and the chocolate factory
