International Museum Day is a significant milestone not only for those working in the field, but for everyone who values the world of museums. Ahead of this date, the Art of Opera and Ballet exhibition will open in the Astana Opera foyer on 17 May for museum enthusiasts and the city’s residents.
If you have visited the Astana Opera even once, you will have undoubtedly seen the opera house museum. While exploring the building before a performance or during the intermission, it is impossible to miss this wonderful museum on the second floor. The costumes of legendary stage masters, such as Roza Baglanova, Bibigul Tulegenova, Yermek Serkebayev, and Sara Kusherbayeva, are carefully preserved in the display cases. Other striking highlights include a small bust of Abai and Kanabek Baiseitov’s piano. Established when the opera house opened in 2013, the museum’s collection now features over 500 items that chronicle the past and present of Kazakhstan’s classical opera and ballet.
Museum administrator Irina Kussenova congratulated everyone on the occasion, wishing her colleagues – who are dedicated to promoting spiritual values – boundless energy and creative success.
“Our primary goal is to preserve and build upon our historical and cultural heritage for the benefit of younger generations. Each year, to mark International Museum Day, we hold an informative exhibition in the foyer. This time, we aim to introduce our guests to the printed volumes that have been gifted to the opera house,” Irina Kussenova said.
Last year, prominent figures in the world of ballet – artistic director of the Astana Opera Ballet, People’s Artist of Russia Altynai Asylmuratova, and ballet master at the Astana Opera Ballet, Honoured Artist of Russia Konstantin Zaklinsky, – donated books to the museum’s collection. Written by ballet critic Flyura Mussina, these works detail their lives and artistic journeys. Additionally, this year, the Zhubanov and Mambetov families gifted books by the renowned composers Akhmet Zhubanov and Gaziza Zhubanova. The display also includes a book brought specifically for the Astana Opera from the Louvre by Stephanie Gaspard, president of the We Are the World international cultural diplomacy community. These works, scores, and claviers will feature prominently in the upcoming exhibition.
When viewed individually, the stage costumes and props are works of art in their own right. Consequently, alongside the printed volumes, the upcoming exhibition will feature the finest costumes and props from the national and international repertoire. These include masterpieces from operas such as Brussilovsky’s Qyz Zhibek, Rossini’s La Scala di Seta, Bizet’s Carmen, Verdi’s Don Carlos, and Puccini’s Turandot, as well as ballets like Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty. This provides the audience with an opportunity to appreciate the diverse styles of different eras and the work of the designers who have collaborated with the opera house for many years.
“The exhibitions organised by the Astana Opera are not confined to the opera house itself; they are gaining wider recognition every year. For instance, with the support of ERG, we have presented our displays across several of the country’s industrial hubs. Notably, this year, the photographs for the enERGy of Earth exhibition were enhanced by our house designer using artificial intelligence. In this year, the Year of Artificial Intelligence, it highlights our team’s creative exploration and innovative spirit,” the museum administrator added.
The opera house foyer recently featured an exhibition dedicated to the creative legacy of the outstanding Kazakh composer Akhmet Zhubanov, whose 120th anniversary is being widely celebrated this year. This display offered attendees a wealth of insight into the composer’s life and work. Over the years, the opera house has also held exhibitions honouring celebrated cultural figures such as Kulyash Baiseitova, Gaziza Zhubanova, and the Italian set designer Ezio Frigerio. Other tributes have featured Tursynbek Nurkaliyev, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan, and one of the founders of ballet art in the capital, alongside many others who have shaped the nation’s performing arts. Furthermore, audiences have come to expect engaging photo exhibitions before every premiere, repertoire performance, or concert. These displays reveal the secrets of life backstage, and guests often enjoy taking photographs with the props and portraits of the artists before the curtain rises.
“The opera house is also deeply committed to the younger generation. For five consecutive years, we have organised an exhibition to mark World Autism Awareness Day. We are also proud to have hosted the We Are the World international children’s art exhibition for the second time. Thanks to the Astana Opera’s collaboration with our French partners, children from across Kazakhstan have become laureates of international competitions, gaining the opportunity to showcase their work at prestigious venues abroad. We are now planning a themed exhibition, The World through the Eyes of Children, to mark International Children’s Day. Our primary goal is to spark an interest in the world of the opera house among young people and provide a platform for their talents. Ultimately, the work of the Astana Opera museum goes far beyond preserving relics; its mission and scope are much broader,” Irina Kussenova concluded.