Astana Opera is preparing for a premiere: Gaetano Donizetti’s comic opera Il Campanellowill take place on the opera house’s stage on April 11 and 12. This work, filled with unbridled fun, panache and magnificent music, promises to win the hearts of the capital’s audience.
Il Campanello is a story of love and intrigue set in the home of a small-town apothecary. The plot revolves around a young girl who marries an elderly apothecary and is preparing for a wedding night with him. The couple’s idyll is disrupted by the appearance of Enrico, Serafina’s young lover, who continues to ring the bell. Each of his visits becomes a real one-man show, causing delight and laughter from the viewers. What awaits the audience in the finale remains a mystery.
At Astana Opera, the project was created by a production team that includes talented designers and musical figures, such as the music director and conductor of the production Ruslan Baimurzin, stage director Nikolai Kulikov, set designer Malika Tulegenova and costume designer Dariga Taishikova. Teachers and vocal coaches Zhupar Gabdullina, Azamat Zheltyrguzov and Talgat Mussabayev worked with the soloists of the Astana Opera International Opera Academy, whose efforts prepared the premiere.
“We are faced with the task of telling a story that is familiar to everyone in an original way. Thus, the era and atmosphere of the work will be preserved through costumes and sets. However, since this is a farce opera, some modern elements will be added to it. In working on this production, we strived to get closer to the ancient format of street theatre, to revive this genre with all its traditions and features, but in a modern interpretation. Let me explain that street theatre is the performers’ ability to express themselves in all capacities, even up to walking on their hands. Therefore, I would call acting skills a particularly important aspect of this opera. It is prevalent: everything here is playful, active, requiring a lot of investment both artistically and vocally, so the material is quite complex. Despite the length and intricate plot, we are getting closer to good results,” stage director Nikolai Kulikov said.
Valeriy Selivanov, Firuza Rakhmetova and Leila Alamanova will perform the main parts of the apothecary and his young bride. Among the other talented artists are Jurica Jurasić Kapun, Sultan Bakytzhan, Bekulan Yerbolatuly, Anastasia Remeskova, Nursultan Anuarbek and Merei Kadyrkhanov.
The premiere of the opera Il Campanello will be held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan. It promises to become an exciting event in the cultural life of the capital, bringing the viewers the pleasure of excellent music and enthralling plot. Tickets are on sale now – do not miss an opportunity for a true musical and theatrical experience!