Operaliya International Music Festival ended at Astana Opera
The Operaliya International Music Festival, held with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, ended at Astana Opera. It lasted a month and a half, and more than 15 thousand viewers attended opera, ballet and concert performances during this time, El.kz cites astanaopera.kz.
Starting a festival of such an international level was a large-scale task. On May 31, the opera house’s soloists, Zhupar Gabdullina, Saltanat Akhmetova, Meir Bainesh and others, together with their Italian colleagues, soprano Desirée Rancatore, baritone Alberto Gazale, tenor Giulio Pelligra and conductor, author of the program Giuseppe Acquaviva, created a true atmosphere of celebration at the Gala Opera that opened the festival. Along with the opera house’s principal dancers, Liaoning Ballet’s principal Zhang Haidong and soloists Sun Huixin and Zhang Youyi, the principals of the Ural Opera Ballet Elena Vorobyeva and Alexey Seliverstov gave brilliant performances at the Gala Ballet on June 2. The capital’s viewers especially noted the exciting premieres at the Gala Ballet and expressed their joy at the Kazakh choreographers’ desire to stage national numbers.
“I especially remember the new numbers, such as Zharmenke, choreographed by Anvara Sadykova and Almat Shamshiyev to the music of the folklore-ethnographic ensemble Turan, as well as Sarmattyq Abyz Aiel, choreographed by Anvara Sadykova to the music of the alternative folk band Steppe Sons. It is also worth noting the number Ruh, staged by the young choreographer Sultanbek Gumar to the musical composition Amanat by the ethno-folklore ensemble Hassak. Overall, I am happy that there are more such national numbers in the ballet art of our country. These are not just movements; choreographers told the history of our people through dance. I express my deep gratitude to the dancers of the capital’s opera house, as well as guest soloists from abroad who came from China and Russia,” viewer Shynar Kassymova said.
As part of the festival, Astana Opera welcomed not only individual artists, but also an entire collective. Thus, on July 4, the Tattimbet Qaraghandy Academic Orchestra of Kazakh Folk Instruments presented to the viewers a concert Darkhan Dala, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the famous composer Sydyk Mukhamedzhanov.
The festival audience felt as if they had discovered a jewellery-box full of treasures, as opera and ballet gems were successively presented to them. Thus, on June 15 and 16, Puccini’s magnificent opera Turandot featuring famous soloists was presented to the viewers. Guest stars included outstanding tenor from Georgia, George Oniani, who performed Calaf. The guests from near and far abroad took with them warm memories of Operaliya and the capital of Kazakhstan. In an interview with the Kazakh media, Mr. Oniani noted that participation in such a high-level festival is a great honour for any artist.
“To be honest, as a Georgian, I envy you that you have such an opportunity to give the audience a high-level festival. This is a great blessing for your audience. God grant that we have similar festivals in Georgia,” the guest soloist expressed his warm wishes.
It should be noted that the ballets presented at the festival, Léo Delibes’ Coppélia and Maurice Jarre’s Notre Dame de Paris, were dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the outstanding choreographer Roland Petit. Thus, prominent personalities were not forgotten at Operaliya, and their work found new fans. Moreover, on June 26 and 27, Gaetano Donizetti’s opera L’Elisir d’Amore was performed featuring soloists of the Astana Opera International Opera Academy. Two casts of the academy attendees, performing on the main stage, took their first significant steps in great art. Mukan Tulebayev’s beloved opera Birzhan – Sarawas presented on June 30.
“I wanted to visit Kazakhstan in May at the opening of Operaliya, since my compatriots performed there. However, I was only able to come in June, and I do not regret it at all, since I got acquainted with the Kazakh opera art gem: Birzhan – Sara. What wonderful music, the melodies flow, I thought to myself. Kazakh opera singers Bibigul Zhanuzak and Meir Bainesh made a huge impression on me,” an Italian viewer Alonzo Bianchi wrote on his Instagram social media account.
In hot July, the number of guest stars who performed at Operaliya was also considerable. Thus, on July 6 and 7, guest artists took part in Tchaikovsky’s famous opera Eugene Onegin: Italian Maestro Giuseppe Acquaviva, soloists of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Musical Theatre soprano Eleanora Makarova and baritone Evgeny Kachurovsky, as well as tenor from Tajikistan Shohrukh Yunusov.
During the large-scale festival, on different days, the audience had an opportunity to enjoy chamber music. Concerts of Iñaki Alberdi (accordion, Spain), Ketevan Abiatari (soprano, violin, Italy/Georgia), Elizaveta Alexandrova (harp, St. Petersburg) were held at the Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall. Astana Opera also traditionally supports Kazakh young laureates, including laureate of the prestigious 16th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition Meruert Karmenova (Belgium/Kazakhstan), laureates of many international competitions Alexander Kutuzov and Bekzat Rakymov (Almaty/Moscow), whose concerts left an unforgettable impression on the listeners.
A worthy conclusion to the festival was the premiere of the concert version of Carl Maria von Weber’s opera Der Freischütz. The listeners were delighted with the music director and conductor – Astana Opera’s principal conductor, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, laureate of the State Prize of Kazakhstan Alan Buribayev, who always amazes the Kazakh audience with new works. They also appreciated the mastery of the opera house’s symphony orchestra and opera company soloists, who deserved thunderous applause. Throughout the festival, together with Alan Buribayev, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin, Giuseppe Acquaviva, Yerlan Baktygerei, holder of the Order of Qurmet Ruslan Baimurzin and laureate of many international competitions Elmar Buribayev conducted the performances.
Operaliya 2024 became a platform for artists, where they were able to reveal a new side of themselves and delight the audience with brilliant debuts. In particular, the debut of Astana Opera’s principal soloist, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Medet Chotabayev as Calaf, was a significant event. The festival aroused great interest not only among viewers, but also among representatives of the Kazakh media. Thus, about 190 materials were published in domestic media. TV, newspapers, radio and information portals constantly published interesting and educational materials from the opening of the festival to the grand closing of Operaliya.
The Operaliya 2024 Festival, which aroused delight and gave vivid emotions, truly became a celebration of high art and the most significant cultural event of this summer.
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