Astana Opera International Opera Academy attendees to present comic opera Il Campanello
On February 27 and 28, the Astana Opera International Opera Academy attendees will present to the audience a work by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti – the comic opera Il Campanello, El.kz cites astanaopera.kz.
This production combines inimitable humour, vocal mastery and the atmosphere of street theatre.
The opera house’s assistant stage director Gulsara Meirambekova approached the revival of the production, which premiered last spring, with special diligence.
“Il Campanello is an opera that, despite its century-old age, sounds fresh and relevant. I would say that this is a real test of an artist’s professionalism. It places high demands on both vocal skills and acting. Despite the apparent ease of the comedy genre, Il Campanello requires nuanced elaboration of the details, a precise understanding of the character portrayal and harmony between singing and acting,” Gulsara Meirambekova says.
She emphasized that the work on the production was carried out in stages, adding that the selection of performers for the parts in an opera is a complex and painstaking process that begins with the work of the conductor and musical directors. Their main task is to evaluate the sound of each voice, find harmony between the performers and distribute the parts so that the ensemble sounds like a single whole. Only after this the artists are divided into two casts, and the next stage begins – the stage director’s work. He is the one who helps the performers understand the mood of the opera, reveal the characters’ personalities, place accents in the mise-en-scènes and nuances of the performance of arias.
Thus, on different days talented vocalists will take the stage, including: Assylzat Nugymanova, Sara Sadygulova (Serafina), Valeriy Selivanov, Shyngys Rassylkhan (Don Annibale), Munkhtuvshin Khorolgarav, Adil Sultan (Enrico), Vasilisa Savkina, Ruzilya Tyumentseva (Madama Rosa), Ablai Beken, Belal Kuanysh (Spiridone).
“When I had to revive the production, the video archive became an indispensable aid. The opportunity to see the performance allowed me to build an image in my head, imagine how scenes should look onstage, and thus facilitate further work with the artists. However, the opera house is a living organism, in which each production is unique and requires additional nuances depending on the cast of participants and their interaction. The stage director always faces a difficult, but exciting task – to reveal the individuality of each soloist and create a harmonious, vibrant ensemble that will leave an unforgettable impression on the viewers. It is important to discern the artists’ strengths and identify areas that require improvement. For some, this may be work on the expressiveness and brightness of singing, for others – on the emotional depth and truthfulness of acting. Nevertheless, each of them will bring their own zest and charisma to the performance, creating something special. This is where adaptability lies – in the ability to reveal and emphasize the individuality of each performer,” the assistant stage director concluded.
As a reminder, the production was prepared by a talented team, which included conductor Ruslan Baimurzin, stage director Nikolay Kulikov, set designer Gulmira Issemgaziyeva and costume designer Dariga Taishikova. Particular attention was paid to details that transport the audience into the atmosphere of a comedic story imbued with the Italian spirit.
The opera’s plot unfolds in a small town, where young Serafina marries an old pharmacist, Don Annibale. Their wedding night has barely begun when the girl’s young lover, Enrico, appears onstage. He creates a whole series of funny and absurd scenes by ringing the pharmacy bell. Each of his appearances becomes a real performance, causing laughter and delight among the audience.
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