APPAK, THE KIPCHAK DAUGHTER

PREMIERE

Serikzhan ABDINUROV, Alibi ABDINUROV

APPAK, THE KIPCHAK DAUGHTER

Opera in 2 acts

Libretto by Tleugazy BEISSEMBEK

 

Performed in Kazakh

(with synchronized Russian and English supertitles)

 

Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes (with two intervals)

Please note that the age limit is 10+

Management reserves the right to substitute performers and works performed

 

 

Appak, the Kipchak Daughter is a national opera created by contemporary Kazakhstani composers and staged at the Astana Opera House.

The libretto is based on the love story of Nizami Ganjavi, a classic of Persian poetry and one of the greatest poets of the medieval East, and a young Kipchak beauty named Appak. “Noble in appearance, beautiful and wise”, she was gifted to the great poet by Dara Muzaffar ad-Din, the ruler of Derbent. Having become Nizami’s wife, she was his great love and muse, inspiring the creation of his enchanting female characters.

In the opera, the protagonists must overcome numerous trials, facing envy, betrayal, slander and deceit. The action is filled with conflict and dramatic tension, as well as philosophical reflection, while the finale affirms the triumph of goodness, love and peace. All this places the work within the lyric-dramatic genre. It is the wisdom of the ruler of Derbent and of Appak, daughter of the Kipchak steppes, that helps to halt hostility between neighbouring peoples and establish peace and harmony. Appak played a significant role not only in the life and creative legacy of Nizami Ganjavi, but also in the history of her own people.

 

PRODUCTION TEAM

 

Music Director and Conductor – Abzal MUKHITDIN, People’s Artist of Kazakhstan
Stage Director – Mikhail PANDZHAVIDZE, Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan
Costume and Set Designers – Pavel DRAGUNOV, Sofia TASMAGAMBETOVA
Lighting Designer – Sergei SHEVCHENKO
Video Designer – Pavel SUVOROV
Choreographer – Aibar TOKTAR

Opera Company Director – Talgat MUSSABAYEV, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan
Principal Chorus Master – Yerzhan DAUTOV, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Chorus Masters – Dauren MUSSIN, Yerzhan SANSYZBAYEV

Second Conductors – Yerbolat AKHMEDYAROV, Ruslan BAIMURZIN, Holder of the Order of Kurmet

Assistants to the Music Director and Conductor – Gulsara MEIRAMBEKOVA, Yevgeniy CHAINIKOV, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan

Assistant Costume Designer – Dariga TAISHIKOVA
Assistant Set Designer – Gulmira ISENGAZIYEVA

Assistant Video Designer – Azamat KUTTYGUZHIN
Assistant Lighting Designer – Karim RAMASH
Technical Project Manager – Victor CARARE

 

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.