Astana Opera Opens 13th Season with Iconic Kazakh Opera Abai

Astana Opera is ushering in its 13th theatrical season with a landmark performance of Abai, the iconic Kazakh opera by composers Akhmet Zhubanov and Latif Khamidi, with a libretto by the renowned writer Mukhtar Auezov.

The season opener is taking place on September 6 and 7, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

The performances will feature a full artistic ensemble, including soloists, chorus members, ballet dancers, and supernumeraries, accompanied by the Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra. The production will be led by principal conductor Alan Buribayev, a distinguished Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan and recipient of the State Prize of Kazakhstan.

The opening of a new season is a major cultural event in the capital, drawing audiences eager to experience the magic of live opera. It marks a reunion between theatregoers and the artists who bring the stage to life, reinforcing Astana Opera’s role as a central pillar of Kazakhstan’s performing arts scene.

The choice of Abai to launch the season is rich in both cultural and historical significance. This year marks the 180th anniversary of Abai Qunanbaiuly, the legendary Kazakh poet and philosopher whose life and work inspired the opera. It also commemorates the 10th anniversary of Abai’s premiere at Astana Opera in a celebrated 2015 production by Alan Buribayev and internationally acclaimed director Giancarlo del Monaco-a staging that later earned the theatre the State Prize of Kazakhstan in culture and the arts.

Recognized as a cornerstone of Kazakh operatic tradition, Abai continues to earn international praise. In 2024, the opera was presented at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow during the “Seeing Music” International Festival. It has also toured to Italy and Uzbekistan, captivating global audiences with its powerful storytelling and rich musical heritage.