Photo: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin
BIART Music Hall, a new multipurpose venue at 17/41 Syganak Street, was unveiled in Astana on November 4. Organisers describe it as Kazakhstan’s first reconfigurable hall with 360° immersive sound. Designed for concerts, arts evenings and business events, the venue was presented by BI Group and BIART. The raem.kz editorial team attended the presentation.
How the hall works
The main technical feature is the Soundscape immersive audio system. It delivers 360° surround sound, much like a modern cinema: sound comes from beyond the stage, filling the entire hall. According to the organisers, no other concert venue in Kazakhstan currently has this system.
The second feature is its flexible layout. During the presentation, the hall was converted from a concert venue into a conference hall in 20–25 minutes, and guests continued the evening with a panel discussion.
В Астане представили BIART Music Hall — зал-трансформер с объёмным звуком 360° · Фото: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin
The concert programme
Live performances showcased the hall’s capabilities, spanning ethnic music, Q-pop and opera.
The Turan ensemble opened the evening. The musicians played traditional Kazakh instruments — the kobyz, dombra and a large dauylpaz drum — while images resembling rock art moved across the screen behind them. In a hall like this, every detail is audible, from the deep rumble of the drum to each string.
Askar Muqiyat, a soloist with Roza Baglanova Kazakhconcert, sang to dombra accompaniment. ZAQ, a member of Ninety One, Kazakhstan’s first Q-pop group, performed a solo number against animated racing cars on the screen. Opera singer Dariga Musayeva demonstrated how the hall handles classical singing: her voice sounded clear and full, as it would in a professional concert hall, making hers one of the evening’s strongest performances.
The programme also featured dance performances in national dress and aerial gymnastics beneath the dome. Yerkebulan Tleulin hosted the evening.
В Астане представили BIART Music Hall — зал-трансформер с объёмным звуком 360° · Фото: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin
Sound and lighting
Sound left the strongest impression of the evening. There was no rattling or wavering during any performance: the ethnic instruments, pop number and opera all sounded as clear as a studio recording. The lighting worked in harmony with the music, with beams, smoke and screen projections shaping the mood of each performance.
В Астане представили BIART Music Hall — зал-трансформер с объёмным звуком 360° · Фото: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin
What events does Astana need?
The second half of the evening was devoted to a panel discussion titled “What events does the city need?” Producers, organisers and industry experts — including Karlygash Azhiyeva, an Honoured Cultural Worker of Kazakhstan — discussed what audiences in the capital want, what makes events sell out, what infrastructure the city lacks and the roles of business, government and the creative community in the city’s events culture.
BIART director Olzhas Ibrayev summed up the venue’s concept with the slogan “One space. Endless possibilities”: he said the hall’s capabilities should extend beyond a single event format.
В Астане представили BIART Music Hall — зал-трансформер с объёмным звуком 360° · Фото: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin
В Астане представили BIART Music Hall — зал-трансформер с объёмным звуком 360° · Фото: пресс-служба BIART, автор Nurasyl Zkrin