Very soon, on 25, 26, and 28 April, a series of exciting debuts in Adolphe Adam’s vibrant ballet Le Corsaire will be presented to residents and guests of the capital. On these days, the ballet company and symphony orchestra will perform under the baton of Maestro Arman Urazgaliyev.
Recently, talented young dancers performed for the first time in demanding classical ballets from the Astana Opera repertoire – Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Minkus’s La Bayadère, and Carmen to the music of Bizet. The artistic director of the ballet company, People’s Artist of Russia Altynai Asylmuratova, continues to introduce new names to the audience. Now, new talent is being given the opportunity to prove themselves in Le Corsaire, further ensuring the continuity of generations.
In turn, the debuting dancers are doing everything in their power to live up to the trust placed in them. Company soloist Kamila Shakhmanova, preparing to take the stage for the first time as Medora, strives to demonstrate not only technical mastery but also compelling acting skills. Notably, the soloist recently took part in the 26th Rudolf Nureyev International Ballet Festival alongside her colleague, principal dancer Dias Kurmangazy, where their performance met with a warm reception from the Ufa audience. Her stage partner, Erkin Bazarbaev, will be debuting as Conrad. This season, he has already demonstrated his artistic potential as the witty barber Basilio in Minkus’s Don Quixote and Prince Désiré in Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty. Furthermore, Doskhan Zaidin (Lanquedem), Alina Zyryanova (Gulnare), Zhaksylyk Saukymbekov (Birbanto), and Ulan Beissenbayev (Seyd Pacha) will be portraying their characters for the first time in Le Corsaire.
Le Corsaire continues its run at the Astana Opera in the production staged by Altynai Asylmuratova. Across the performance dates, the cast includes both dancers making their role debuts and established masters. Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Aigerim Beketayeva will perform Medora, partnered by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Arman Urazov as Conrad. The cast further features Aibar Toktar as Lanquedem, Shugyla Adepkhan as Gulnare, and Aidan Kalzhan as Birbanto. Kuat Karibayev will debut as Seyd Pacha, while the role of the Slave Ali will be shared by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Yerkin Rakhmatullayev and Dias Kurmangazy.
For the opera house’s prima ballerina Aigerim Beketayeva, this ballet is linked to significant personal milestones. The principal dancer noted that her history with Le Corsaire began during her training at the Seleznev Almaty Choreographic School, where she performed the pas de deux for her final state examinations. The ballerina, who celebrates 15 years on stage this year, remarked that Le Corsaire has a long-standing place in her repertoire.
“Le Corsaire is a unique production that showcases a dancer’s technical range. The intricate fouettés, high leaps, and dynamic turns demand immense professionalism and endurance. My stage partner Arman Urazov and I have performed this ballet together since its premiere at the opera house in 2018. Naturally, we worked hard initially to build a rapport and find a shared rhythm. After many performances together, we now understand one another instinctively. I trust Arman implicitly as a partner. When I am tired or feeling the pressure, his vibrant energy and positivity give me strength. I am delighted to be performing this ballet with him,” shared Aigerim Beketayeva.
Performance Times: 25 and 26 April at 5pm; 28 April at 7pm.
