Organization

Admin

Astana Opera

Conductor

Abzal Mukhitdinov

Stage director

Franco Zeffirelli

Assistant Stage Director

Yerenbak Toikenov

Singer

Soprano

Zhupar Gabdullina

Aida

Tenor

Sayan Isin

Radames

Mezzo-soprano

Gulzhanat Sapakova

Amneris

Saltanat Muratbekova

Baritone

Badral Chuluunbaatar

Amonasro

Talgat Mussabayev

Bass

Baurzhan Anderzhanov

The King of Egypt

Shyngys Rasylkhan

Ramfis

Bolat Yessimkhanov

Ramzat Balakishiev

A messenger

Zhamilya Jarkimbayeva

A high priestess

Yelena Ganzha

Orchestra

Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra

Others

Astana Opera Chorus

Ballet

Astana Opera Ballet

Italian

Nur-Sultan

Kazakhstan

Aida Verdi

Public

Matias Vergara Moyano

Approved

G. Verdi’s opera “Aida” staged by the outstanding director and set designer of our times Franco Zeffirelli (La Scala, Italy) will be performed at the State Opera and Ballet Theatre “Astana Opera”.

Conductor: Abzal MUKHITDIN, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Assistant Director: Yerenbak TOIKENOV

 

GUEST SOLOISTS:

Amonasro: Badral CHULUUNBAATAR (Mongolia)

Radamès: Sayan ISIN (Kyrgyzstan)

 

In 1868, on the occasion of inauguration of the Suez Canal, the Egyptian government commissioned Verdi to write an opera based on a plot from the history of Egypt. It was planned to premiere the opera during the inauguration of the opera house in Cairo, but the composer refused. However, in 1870, he agreed and got acquainted with the scenario by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, who used a legend about the struggle of ancient pharaohs against (Nubia) Ethiopia written on papyrus and decrypted by him. The scenery and costumes were created according to the drawings of Mariette. French author C. du Locle (1832-1903) wrote the prose text of the opera, and A. Ghislanzoni (1824-1893) created the poetic text. Verdi actively participated in the creation of the story, studying thoroughly the history and art of ancient Egypt.

“Aida” was first performed on 24 December 1871 in Cairo, and in Milan the following year. Both performances were a triumphal success.

The personal drama of the protagonists full of acute conflicts is unfolding against a background of monumental crowd scenes, triumphant marches and anthems. The obscurantism of the churchmen was embodied in the images of cruel priests, opposed by inner beauty and moral principles of Aida and Radamès: their love came through all the ordeals, even in the face of death. The opera sounds like a hymn to noble feelings.

 

 

ROLES AND PERFORMERS

 

11 JULY

Aida – Zhupar GABDULLINA, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Radamès – Sayan ISIN (Kyrgyzstan)

Amneris – Gulzhanat SAPAKOVA

Amonasro – Badral CHULUUNBAATAR (Mongolia)

The King of Egypt – Baurzhan ANDERZHANOV

Ramfis – Shyngys RASYLKHAN

A messenger – Ramzat BALAKISHIYEV

Priestess – Zhamilya JARKIMBAYEVA, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

 

* * *

 

12 JULY

Aida – Zhupar GABDULLINA, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Radamès – Sayan ISIN (Kyrgyzstan)

Amneris – Saltanat MURATBEKOVA

Amonasro – Talgat MUSSABAYEV, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

The King of Egypt – Shyngys RASYLKHAN

Ramfis – Bolat YESSIMKHANOV

A messenger – Ramzat BALAKISHIYEV

Priestess – Yelena GANZHA

 

Running time: 3 hours 30 minutes (including two intervals)

 

Performed in Italian

(accompanied by synchronized subtitles in Kazakh and Russian)

 

OPERA SOLOISTS, SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, CHORUS, BALLET AND EXTRAS OF THE ASTANA OPERA HOUSE

English

Aida by Verdi, From (2021/2021), Directed by Franco Zeffirelli,, Conductor Abzal Mukhitdinov, Astana Opera, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

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Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues