Nursultan Anuarbek, a soloist at Astana Opera and a member of the Bolshoi Theatre’s Young Artist Opera Programme, has been selected as one of ten talented young singers worldwide invited to participate in the fifth anniversary Opera for Peace International Festival. The major event will take place in Lugano, Switzerland, from 4 to 12 September 2026.
Supported by LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura and the Fondation BNP Paribas, the Opera for Peace Academy will bring together young opera singers from four continents. Over the course of ten days, participants will engage in masterclasses and individual sessions with world-renowned conductors, singers, and vocal coaches. The programme also includes workshops focused on leadership development and understanding the social role of the artist in contemporary society.
The festival will culminate in a gala concert on 12 September, which will open the LAC 2026/2027 musical season. The young vocalists will perform alongside the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, conducted by the artistic and musical director of Opera for Peace, Kamal Khan, who has received international recognition for his extensive contribution to the global opera world. Nursultan Anuarbek will represent Kazakhstan alongside artists from the USA, Türkiye, China, South Korea, Costa Rica, and other nations.
Participation in this prestigious international project marks an important stage in the young tenor’s career. Nursultan Anuarbek was selected following a rigorous audition process alongside nine other participants. The artist’s credentials include victories at vocal competitions, including the Grand Prix at the Kazakh Romansiada and first prize at the Caruso – De Curtis competition in Italy. In 2025, he successfully navigated a highly competitive selection process to join the Bolshoi Theatre’s Young Artist Opera Programme, where he trained for a year.
Renowned for its high standards and rigorous selection process, the Bolshoi Theatre’s programme admits a limited number of trainees annually, with only the most promising individuals receiving the opportunity to extend their training and join the main company. Nursultan Anuarbek’s achievements, including recently winning third prize at the V Sergey Lemeshev International Competition for Young Opera Singers in Tver, demonstrate his rapid professional development and significant potential on the international opera stage. Following his performance in Switzerland, Nursultan Anuarbek will return to his training with the Bolshoi Theatre’s Young Artist Opera Programme, having been invited to continue for a further year.
