Kalkaman – Mamyr «Astana Opera»

Balnur Kydyrbek

Kalkaman – Mamyr

Opera-ballet in two acts

Libretto author: Kauken Kenzhetayev (based on the poem by Shakarim Kudaiberdyuly)

Kalkaman and Mamyr are to the Kazakh people what Romeo and Juliet are to the British. Traditions and customs keep the two lovers apart. According to the laws of the genre, the girl dies and her lover is mortally wounded. The plot is worthy of being embodied both in the opera and in the ballet.

The opera-ballet is a bold experiment by Kazakhstani composer Balnur Kydyrbek. The main roles are given to opera artists; the ballet part of the performance only supplements the main plot. The dance helps the audience to better understand the feelings of the characters and to empathise with them.

An interesting scenic solution for the performance was presented by Yuri Alexandrov, a renowned Russian director, Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a great friend of the Astana Opera House, and a great connoisseur of Kazakh art. In his interpretation, the singing Kalkaman and Mamyr are the real characters, while the dancing Kalkaman and Mamyr are their souls.

The main parts in the opera-ballet are given to young artists, who have been entrusted by the producers to carry out a creative experiment.

ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION TEAM

Music Director and Conductor: Abzal Mukhitdin, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Stage Director: Yuri Alexandrov, People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Choreographer: Nadezhda Kalinina

Principal Chorus Master: Yerzhan Dautov, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Costume (men) and Set Designer: Pavel Dragunov, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Costume (women) and Set Designer: Sofia Tasmagambetova, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Lighting Designer: Karim Ramash

Video Projection Designer: Pavel Suvorov

Technical Project Manager: Victor Carare

Opera Company Director: Azamat Zheltyrguzov, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Artistic Director of the Ballet Company: Altynai Asylmuratova, People’s Artist of Russia

Stage Managers: Altynganym Akhmetova, Ainur Khalelova

The story takes place in the 18th century in the Tobykty clan

LEAD ROLES AND PERFORMERS

Kokenai – Zhanat SHYBYKBAYEV, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan / Valery SELIVANOV

Mamyr – Zhannat BAKTAY, Honoured Artist of Kazakhstan / Nazym SAGYNTAY

Anet baba – Azat MALIK, laureate of the State Youth Prize “Daryn” / Altynbek ABILDA, laureate of the State Youth Prize “Daryn”

Kalkaman – Narul TOIKENOV / Sayan ISIN

Olzhai – Beimbet TANARYKOV / Talgat ALLABIRINOV

Kalkaman’s Soul – Bekzat ORYNBAYEV

Mamyr’s Soul – Gulnaz ZHANAYEVA

Boys, girls, people

OPERA SOLOISTS, BALLET DANCERS, ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS OF THE ASTANA OPERA HOUSE

Tickets purchased at the Astana Opera are exchangeable and refundable only in cases of cancelled or postponed performances. In all other cases, no refunds and exchanges are possible.