Mukan Tulebayev’s Birzhan – Sara to present at Astana Opera’s Grand Hall
National classical art gem, Mukan Tulebayev’s opera Birzhan – Sara, will be presented at Astana Opera’s Grand Hall on January 23 and 24. For two evenings, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin will take the helm of the opera house’s symphony orchestra. It is also expected that the performances will feature the debuts of young artists of the capital’s opera house.
When the celebrated opera Birzhan – Sara appears in the playbill, it is always a significant event not only for art aficionados, but also for Astana Opera’s artists. The story of two lovers Birzhan and Sara does not lose its relevance today. Thus, on January 23 and 24, the brilliant soloists of the capital’s opera house will take the stage in the opera that has become a hallmark of national art. In particular, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Meir Bainesh and Beimbet Tanarykov will perform the title role of Birzhan, and Honored Workers of Kazakhstan Bibigul Zhanuzak and Aigul Niyazova will present the main heroine Sara.
The opera company’s wonderful artists will portray other characters onstage: Zhanbota – Talgat Galeyev, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Zhanat Shybykbayev, Analyq – Gulzhanat Sapakova, Saltanat Muratbekova, Altynai – Assem Sembina, Ulpan Aubakirova (debut), Zhienqul – Altynbek Abilda (debut), Qozhaghul – Valeriy Selivanov (debut), Shyngys Rassylkhan, Serik – Artur Gabdiyev, Merei Kadyrkhanov (debut), Yestai – Alikhan Zeinolla, Talgat Allabirinov.
The opera house’s soloist Altynbek Abilda, making his debut as Zhienqul, said that this will be his second performance of a negative character in the national repertoire. Before that, he took the stage as Zhirenshe in Akhmet Zhubanov and Latyf Khamidi’s opera Abai.
“Zhienqul wants to forcefully make the poetess Sara his fourth wife. I had to work a lot on the role, because Zhienqul is a negative character. This part has a wide range of vocal techniques. There are a lot of low notes, I work with musical phrases, and I pay attention to nuances in the sound. Thus, in order to convey the character correctly, it is very important to clearly sing all the vowel sounds,” Altynbek Abilda said and invited all high art aficionados to Astana Opera to listen to this performance.
Ulpan Aubakirova, the opera house’s young soloist who is preparing to present the part of jealous Altynai, who is in love with Birzhan, noted that this is her first experience of working on a Kazakh opera.
“Altynai, being in love with Birzhan since childhood, would like to separate him from Sara. Certainly, unrequited love blinds the girl and brings malice into her soul. She is shown in the opera as a negative character, but for me, Altynai is kind, she only succumbs to anger because she cannot make Birzhan fall in love with her. This unrequited love pushes her to desperate measures, which unfortunately lead to a tragic end. I will strive to portray her in my own way, and I hope that my Altynai will be convincing,” the soloist concluded.
Valeriy Selivanov, the opera house’s artist who will be taking the stage as Birzhan’s father Qozhaghul, wished the viewers to enjoy the magnificent music and overall excellent production of Mukan Tulebayev’s opera and get vivid impressions.
“Although Qozhaghul is not the biggest role, it is an important debut for me. My hero always takes care of his son and worries about him, because the Mullahs warn him against the danger of clashing with the authorities. Unlike his father, Birzhan is not afraid of this. I think I can convey the feelings of a father for his son,” Valeriy Selivanov shared.
As a reminder, in two years Mukan Tulebayev’s opera Birzhan – Sara will turn eighty years old. In 2013, Astana Opera opened with this masterpiece from the treasure-trove of national classical art. For several years, the opera house featured a production of this opera staged by the People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of Kazakhstan Yuri Alexandrov. In 2014, it was also presented at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.
Later, in 2018, the capital’s opera house presented to the audience a new production staged by Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Askhat Maemirov and consultant stage director Mikhail Pandzhavidze. The music director and conductor of both musical and stage versions was Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin. Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, principal choirmaster Yerzhan Dautov was responsible for the magnificent sound of the choir.
The performances will begin at 7 PM.
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