The Astana Opera’s performance of Rossini’s La Scala di Seta at the 8th Musical Theatre Festival “Seeing Music” gathered a capacity crowd and was highly praised by music critics. The Astana Opera once again confirmed the important place of Kazakh art in the international arena, El.kz cites astanaopera.kz.
The venue for the tour performance was the famous Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre, named after an outstanding 20th century opera singer. On this day, prominent musical and public figures, as well as the Moscow arts intelligentsia attended the performance.
“The impressions are quite positive, the opera house showed a worthy musical and vocal level, an even musical ensemble as a whole. Rossini style was maintained, which is not always possible to say and not about everyone, the Maestro did everything right,” music critic Dmitry Morozov shared after the performance.
“Thank you very much for choosing Moscow for your tour and for bringing such not commonly performed opera in terms of repertoire productions. This is a bold choice, a work that requires a virtuoso performance, and you were not afraid and gave us a celebration and good mood. For many, another important opera was added to the portrait of Rossini, proving that his genius is open to further knowledge,” Maria Babalova, a music columnist of the Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper, said.
The Astana Opera’s production of La Scala di Seta premiered in 2019. Since then, the production has been actively featured within the framework of the Piccolo Theatre project on its native stage and on tour in the cities of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. The opera invariably enjoys success with the audience due to high performing skills of the artists, sumptuous costume and set design.
Incidentally, this operatic farsa comica is not easy to perform, because it requires not only impeccable mastery of the bel canto technique, but also equally excellent acting skills. The Astana Opera soloists handled all the tasks superbly, giving their parts a unique individuality, portraying the subtle nuances of the characters’ personalities, which won the hearts of the audience. Their voices were soaring and emotional: holder of the Order of Qurmet Aizada Kaponova flaunted virtuoso passages as Giulia, and tenor Alikhan Zeinolla performed Dorvil with exquisite taste. The opera house’s soloist with a wonderful velvety baritone voice Altynbek Abilda skillfully created the interpretation of the enterprising Germano. Yevgeniy Chainikov took the stage as Blansac, the artist’s rich bass and stateliness made the portrayal of his hero bright and memorable. Tatyana Vitsinskaya handled the part of Lucilla with ease and playfulness, and Ramzat Balakishiyev brilliantly took on the role of Dormont.
Manana Gunia’s set and costume design created a visual perception corresponding to the 18th century era, and Ala Simonishvili’s skillful directorial ideas added dynamics and comedic flair to the action onstage.
The musical accompaniment was no less impeccable: the orchestra under the baton of the Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Maestro Abzal Mukhitdin masterfully brought to life the melodies of the young Rossini.
“Touring is a unique opportunity to share Kazakh art with foreign audiences. The artists, technical staff and everyone who contributed to the tour performance worked tirelessly to make this evening special. We hope that our performance was presented at a worthy level. We were happy to take part in the “Seeing Music” festival and we wish its organizers for the subsequent program to find warm responses in the audience’s hearts. May the ovations continue, and may the performances of all the collectives be bright and successful,” Galym Akhmedyarov, the Astana Opera’s General Director, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, noted.
“Today is a significant day, because visits of opera houses such as the Astana Opera, which is one of the best opera collectives in the world, of course, is a very important event for Moscow. I think that for the festival taking place in this wonderful Galina Vishnevskaya Opera Centre and for the Moscow audience to get acquainted with Rossini’s very complex, rarely performed opera, which you brought, is a great happiness. Moreover, today the Astana Opera is a team of very serious musicians and opera singers – all this together makes this event extraordinary. Culture brings peoples together as nothing else. In order to understand the soul of another country, one must feel its culture. It is important to note that Kazakh culture today is a highly professional culture,” Mikhail Shvydkoy, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, emphasized.
The Astana Opera’s tour was supported by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Russia. The magical performance of the company, full of talent and passion, left an unforgettable impression in the hearts of those who had the good fortune to attend this event.