Vocabulary

to dare – отважиться

widowed – овдовевший

to disdain – пренебрегать, чураться

wind-instruments – духовые инструменты

joint shooting – совместные съемки

resolute - решительный

the Holder of “Parasat” Order – кавалер Ордена «Парасат»

the Winner of the State Award of the USSR – лауреат Государственной премии СССР

the Special Prize of All-America Association of Arts Support – Специальный приз Всеамериканской ассоциации поддержки искусств

• Match the phrases in English and in Russian:

1. the entire galaxy a. быть знаменитым, прославленным

2. to have an idle time b. зоотехник

3. to be renowned c. целая плеяда

4. acting skills d. склонность к музыке

5. to contribute to e. иметь хороший музыкальный слух

6. a livestock expert f. оставаться без работы

7. bent for music g. актерские способности

8. to have a good ear for music h. вносить вклад в

• Match the parts of the collocations and translate them from English into Russian:

1. a variety of a. mother

2. a recent b. studio

3. a successful c. comedy

4. home d. aul

5. musical f. debut

6. a native g. work

7. a widowed h. cinematography

8. a romantic i. characters

• Finish the sentences using information from the text:

1. It’s no wonder that …

2. He has contributed greatly …

3. The boy spent his childhood …

4. Nurzhuman’s love of music …

5. Later he graduated …

6. Since that time the talented actor has succeeded …

• Answer the questions:

1. Why does Nurzhuman Ihtymbayev take a special place among Kazakhstan film stars?

2. What are the most remarkable films he has acted in?

3. When and where was he born?

4. Who discovered his bent for music?

5. What musical instruments can Nurzhuman play?

6. What sort of education did he get?

7. When did his career at cinema start?

8. What sort of roles has Nurzhuman played?

9. What is his recent work?

10. What awards has Nurzhuman Ihtymbayev won?

Batyrhan shukenov

Batyrhan Shukenov is a famous Kazakh and Russian pop singer. He was born on 18 May, 1962, in the city of Kyzyl Orda.

Batyrhan Shukenov’s musical talent began to be shown in his earliest school age. The guitar was the first musical instrument he was interested in.

In 1979 Batyrhana Shukenov entered the State Institute of Culture in Leningrad. Nowadays it’s St. Petersburg. Batyr’s purpose was to raise his professional level and skill there. When he arrived in the cultural capital of the former Soviet Union he had in his hands a saxophone, which was one of several musical instruments he had mastered. Batyrhan lived in St. Petersburg for two years. Nowadays he remembers that period of his life as the most significant in his career growth.

Having graduated from the institute, Batyrhan returned home and entered the Kurmangazy Almaty State Conservatory. There he got acquainted with the well-known Soviet jazz musician George Metaksoy and began to act with such famous musician as Tahir Ibragimov and the group “Boomerang”.

Then he was invited to a well-known group “Araj”. After a year of work in this group Batyr was awarded the title of a prize-winner of the all-union competition of variety actors of the USSR.

From 1985 to 1986 Batyrhan was serving in the Central Asian Military orchestra. Having served in the Army, Batyrhan began to play in the group “Almata”. Later the group was renamed in “Almata Studio”, and even later in “A’ Studio”.

Batyr Shukenov wrote songs for “A’ Studio” and had worked at Alla Pugachyova’s Theatre for thirteen years. The song Julia, which was written in those years, is still Batyr’s visiting-card.

After a while Batyrhan decided to create his own solo project. His first solo album was recorded in the Kazakh language and was called "Otan Ana" (the Native Land).

Twice the musician won the “Altyn Adam” prize in the “Person of the Year” nomination, also received the independent reward “Platinum Tarlan” in the "Music" nomination and the award of “Person of the Year” having taken part in an international musical competition.