In the CityIn the CityPhoto: jtstewart, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
The building with its spreading curved walls, like petals, is called different things by locals — some call it the "flower of the desert," as the architect intended, while others simply call it "cabbage," and both nicknames have taken hold equally firmly. Inside is the main hall with almost 3,500 seats, and next to it are two smaller halls: state concerts, guest performances, and philharmonic programs are all held here.
Construction of the concert hall began in 2004 and opened on December 16, 2009 — on Kazakhstan's Independence Day. Architect Manfredi Nicoletti, one of Italy's most avant-garde architects, embodied the image of a blooming steppe flower in the building's form. It remains the largest concert venue in the country.