Astana Opera to present Abai opera at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre
On October 16, Astana Opera will stage the opera Abai at the New Stage of 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 will take place with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation and the administration of the Bolshoi Theatre.
The opera Abai by Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi to the libretto by Mukhtar Auezov will be performed by opera soloists, choir, ballet, supernumeraries and symphony orchestra of Astana Opera under the baton of conductor Elmar Buribayev.
“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. We are happy to share this work with the Russian audience,” Astana Opera’s general director Galym Akhmedyarov says.
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 opera Abai has already become a brand of Independent Kazakhstan, winning over audiences at stage venues of many countries, including Italy, and gaining enthusiastic reviews from critics and viewers.
