Yevgeny Brusilovsky
Opera
Libretto by Gabit Musrepov based on the eponymous Kazakh folk poem. Premiere at the Abai Opera and Ballet Theatre: 7 November 1934. Premiere at the Astana Opera House: 10-11 February 2017.
Opera in 2 acts and an epilogue
Performed in Kazakh
(accompanied by synchronised Russian and English supertitles)
ACT I
Scene 1
Spring. Evening. A tired caravan stopped to take a rest. Batyr Bekezhan confesses his love for Zhibek, who is known for her beauty and mind throughout the steppe. She politely refuses, because she has made up her mind to get married only to a man whom she will love.
After a long journey, richly dressed people approach the encampment. They are Tulegen, a son of bai Bazarbai, who has heard a lot about the extraordinary merits of the beauty, and his friend akyn Shege who sings of Zhibek in delight and introduces Tulegen, an heir to the infinite riches of his father, to her.
Having met Tulegen, Zhibek falls in love with him. The happy fiance goes home to get his father’s blessing.
Blinded by jealousy Bekezhan gives a pledge to win the love of Zhibek at any price. He follows Tulegen to wreak vengeance on him.
Scene 2
Summer. Bazarbai’s Palace. Tulegen’s father had not blessed him to marry Zhibek. Shege and Tulegen’s sister Karlygash persuade Tulegen to address his father with the same request once again.
Scene 3
At the palace, Bazarbai watches future batyrs practicing archery and playing zhamby. All of a sudden, Bekezhan, who has arrived here to challenge his rival to a fight, takes a tidy shot and hits the target. But Tulegen offers him to leave the choice to Zhibek.
Tulegen’s father again declares that he will not bless Tulegen and Zhibek’s wedding. He prefers that a daughter of the neighboring clan’s ruler should become his daughter-in-law.
However, having received his mother’s blessing and against his father’s will, Tulegen sets off on a dangerous journey alone.
ACT II
Scene 1
Bekezhan who has changed his mind to kill his rival, waits for Tulegen in the steppe and offers him to be friends. Now, they will go to Zhibek together. Tulegen is happy about it, and reveals his soul in a song, dreaming of happiness with his beloved soon. Having heard this, Bekezhan feels a sharp pang of jealousy and kills Tulegen.
Scene 2
Bekezhan was wandering about the steppes for a long time; he cannot forgive himself for the weak moment, which led to the tragedy. Unable to endure the anguish any longer, he decides to tell Zhibek about the death of her beloved.
Autumn. Zhibek is faithfully waiting for Tulegen and making preparations for their wedding. However, she is often bothered by disturbing dreams. The miserable, tormented by long wanderings Bekezhan appears and tells her the terrible news. The slayer is cursed and banished.
Epilogue
The caravan leaves for winter encampment. Above it, high in the sky swans fly as a symbol of true and eternal love.
Winter. The ground is covered with soft, like swan feathers, snow.