On February 3, Astana Opera presented to the residents and guests of the capital Donizetti’s exciting comic opera Don Pasquale within the framework of the Piccolo Theatre project. The Astana Opera International Opera Academy attendee, a promising young tenor Alikhan Zeinolla took the Kulyash Baiseitova Chamber Hall stage as Ernesto for the first time.
On that day, Astana Opera’s soloists, orchestra, choir and supernumeraries performed under the baton of the music director and conductor of the production, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Abzal Mukhitdin. The Honored Artist of Kazakhstan Zhannat Baktay portrayed Norina, Rassul Zharmagambetov performed Dr Malatesta, Yevgeniy Chainikov presented the title role of the bachelor Don Pasquale, Carlino – Yerulan Kamel.
The outstanding composer Gaetano Donizetti’s opera is set to Giovanni Ruffini’s libretto, based on the libretto by Angelo Anelli for Stefano Pavesi’s opera Ser Marcantonio. The musical masterpiece premiered at Astana Opera in 2020. The artistic director of the production of one of the most popular operas in the Italian repertoire was Ala Simonishvili, Manana Gunia created colorful sets and costumes, and Yerenbak Toikenov became the stage director. The principal choirmaster is the Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Dautov, the technical director of the project is Victor Carare, the lighting designer is Sergei Kulak, and the opera company director is the Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Azamat Zheltyrguzov.