The Astana Opera House, opened in 2013, is one of the more ambitious cultural projects of post-1997 Astana. The exterior is a vast neoclassical block of white stone with a colonnaded portico; the interior layers Kazakh ornament — carved panels, geometric tilework, gold leaf — over an Italian-style horseshoe auditorium with a capacity of around 1,250. The acoustics, designed by an Italian team, are excellent.
The repertoire mixes core European opera and ballet with newly commissioned Kazakh works, and the resident company is increasingly known internationally. Tickets are still surprisingly affordable compared to comparable European houses, even for opening nights, and the dress-up culture is part of the experience. Guided tours of the building run during the day when no rehearsals are scheduled.