Opera Abai staged at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre
On October 16, Astana Opera staged the opera Abai at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow as part of the Seeing Music International Festival, which brings together outstanding opera productions from near and far abroad, Kazinform News Agency reports citing the press service of the opera theatre.
The tour took place with the support of the Kazakh Ministry of Culture and Information, Kazakhstan Embassy in Russia and the administration of the Bolshoi Theatre.
The opera Abai by Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi to the libretto by Mukhtar Auezov was performed by opera soloists, choir, ballet, supernumeraries and symphony orchestra of Astana Opera under the baton of conductor Elmar Buribayev.
According to Astana Opera Director Galym Akhmedyarov, it is a unique opportunity to demonstrate the cultural heritage of Kazakhstan to the Russian audience.
“It is a great honour for us to present the Kazakh opera at one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world. The opera Abai not only reflects the spirit of our people, but it is also a symbol of its cultural heritage,” he said.
Soloist Talgat Mussabayev performed Abai’s role in the opera.
The opera Abai is a monumental work, composed more than 70 years ago. The opera not only features the love and the fight between good and evil, but also reflects multifaceted nature and depth of the Kazakh soul, revealing to the viewers a unique way of nomadic life and philosophical reflections of nomads.
Italian stage director Giancarlo del Monaco together with consulting director Yesmukhan Obayev, principal choirmaster Yerzhan Dautov, as well as the outstanding set designer Ezio Frigerio and the Academy Award-winning costume designer Franca Squarciapino created an impressive atmosphere of the era, where each costume becomes an independent work of art in itself.
The guests of honor of the evening were the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Aida Balayeva, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation, Dauren Abayev, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Olga Lyubimova, the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, Mikhail Shvydkoy and others.
The opera Abai has long become the brand of independent Kazakhstan, and the Moscow tour, supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reaffirmed its international significance.