World premiere of Kazakhstan's Astana Opera Theatre
- 11 years ago
The Astana Opera Theatre in Kazakhstan staged a major production this year. Honoured guests from over 25 countries enjoyed the premiere of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera ‘Attila’ on the first day of the new season. The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev was in attendance. He was joined by the heads of the world’s major theatres such as La Scala, Covent Garden and the Scottish Opera.
Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov is the director of the Astana Opera State Theatre of Opera and Ballet. He told euronews:
“Today we welcome the leaders of the largest theatres to the world premiere of ‘Astana Opera’. We have the president of the Royal Opera House from London’s Covent Garden. Representatives of the Rome’s theatres, Italian theatres and theatres across Europe are all here. Even the President of the Union of the Theatres of Europe, which includes 135 theatres.”
The opera is based on historical events of the 5th century when the Roman Empire was under attack from the Huns. Their ferocious leader Attila conquered many European tribes and dreamed of conquering Rome. The opera features vast crowd scenes and spectacular arias. Renowned Italian artist Pier Luigi Pizzi was stage and set director. He praised everyone behind the production:
“I had some very good toolmakers, the orchestra was just magnificent and so were the choir and the ballet group.And I’d like to draw attention to the young Kazakh soldiers, who for the first time took part in the performance as well, so the Huns that you see on stage are real soldiers from Kazakhstan”.
Several opera theatres were involved in the exclusive preparation of this world premiere. The Mariinsky Theatre was represented, with stage decoration by the Roman theatre. Italian design companies also made all the performance costumes and the Teatro La Fenice from Venice organised the exhibition in the hall. The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia also held an exhibition featuring dresses.
Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov is the director of the Astana Opera State Theatre of Opera and Ballet. He told euronews:
“Today we welcome the leaders of the largest theatres to the world premiere of ‘Astana Opera’. We have the president of the Royal Opera House from London’s Covent Garden. Representatives of the Rome’s theatres, Italian theatres and theatres across Europe are all here. Even the President of the Union of the Theatres of Europe, which includes 135 theatres.”
The opera is based on historical events of the 5th century when the Roman Empire was under attack from the Huns. Their ferocious leader Attila conquered many European tribes and dreamed of conquering Rome. The opera features vast crowd scenes and spectacular arias. Renowned Italian artist Pier Luigi Pizzi was stage and set director. He praised everyone behind the production:
“I had some very good toolmakers, the orchestra was just magnificent and so were the choir and the ballet group.And I’d like to draw attention to the young Kazakh soldiers, who for the first time took part in the performance as well, so the Huns that you see on stage are real soldiers from Kazakhstan”.
Several opera theatres were involved in the exclusive preparation of this world premiere. The Mariinsky Theatre was represented, with stage decoration by the Roman theatre. Italian design companies also made all the performance costumes and the Teatro La Fenice from Venice organised the exhibition in the hall. The Bolshoi Theatre of Russia also held an exhibition featuring dresses.