An Italian summer has arrived in the Kazakh capital, and it is not just down to the weather. This past weekend, the Astana Opera was filled with the spirit of light-hearted comedy and brilliant music, as Gaetano Donizetti’s celebrated L’Elisir d’Amore delighted the audience.
On the surface, the plot is deceptively simple: the humble Nemorino is enamoured with the capricious beauty, Adina. In a desperate bid to win her heart, he purchases a ‘miraculous’ elixir from the charlatan Dulcamara, which, in truth, is nothing more than ordinary local wine. Yet, it is precisely from this folly that genuine magic blossoms.
Staged as part of the Operaliya International Festival, these recent performances offered the public a unique opportunity to experience two distinct, yet equally brilliant, interpretations of the opera.
On the evening of 13 June, the audience was treated to a breathtaking vocal partnership. The role of the irresistible Adina was impeccably portrayed by Saltanat Akhmetova, the opera house’s principal soloist and Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan. She was partnered by guest soloist Nurlan Bekmukhambetov of the Novaya Opera theatre, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan and Honoured Artist of Tatarstan. His lyrical tenor, imbued with a delicate vulnerability, proved an ideal fit for the lovestruck youth.
“The role of Nemorino is true bel canto, and it is technically highly demanding. The primary challenge lies in balancing technical rigour with the artistic vision of the stage director and composer. Having served as a guest soloist at the Astana Opera for several years, returning to my native land is always a joyous occasion – it is a privilege to share my craft with the Kazakh public. My parents live in Kazakhstan, and they both celebrated their eighty-fifth birthdays this year. I pray to the heavens that they may enjoy many more years to come,” noted the tenor following the performance.
On 14 June, the audience was treated to another brilliant cast. The mantle of Nemorino was assumed by the wonderful tenor, Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Zhan Tapin, whilst the role of Adina was performed by Bulgarian guest artist Stefani Krasteva-Pavlova. Her superb mastery of the European vocal tradition was evident throughout, and, judging by the tumultuous applause, the partnership was an unequivocal success.
“It has been a profound honour to participate in such a significant international festival. Initiatives like this unite artists from diverse cultures and creative traditions, fostering an environment of inspiration, mutual exchange, and new artistic connections. It was particularly rewarding to perform before the Kazakh public and present my craft on a stage that has truly become a meeting point for talented musicians from across the globe. What I find most compelling about Adina is her internal transformation. Initially, she appears strong, independent, and self-assured in her convictions, yet love gradually compels her to see herself anew. I thoroughly enjoy portraying this journey on stage; the greatest challenge is making this transition feel natural and truthful. It was vital to me that the audience believed in every stage of her development, seeing a living human being rather than merely an operatic character. This very complexity is what makes the role so rewarding for me as an artist. I believe many in the audience may have recognised themselves in Adina today. After all, we often fail to understand our own feelings immediately, only opening our hearts to love once it has already entered our lives,” observed Stefani Krasteva-Pavlova.
The production, which premiered six years ago, retains a remarkable visual freshness. French stage director Arnaud Bernard has seamlessly blended the traditions of classic opera buffa with a light, romantic melodrama. The sets by the distinguished designer Ezio Frigerio and costumes by Academy Award-winner Franca Squarciapino transport the action to the atmospheric Italian south of the mid-nineteenth century, framing a beautifully picturesque village. The costumes are rich in olive and terracotta tones, while the staging creates an expansive sense of light and space. The production’s musical director is Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan and State Prize laureate Alan Buribayev. For these festival performances the symphony orchestra was led by Maestro Arman Urazgaliyev, with the chorus delivering a superb performance under the direction of Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Dautov.
The audience hung on every witty word from the cunning Dulcamara, brilliantly portrayed during these performances by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Yevgeniy Chainikov and Daryn State Youth Award laureate Shyngys Rassylkhan.
L’Elisir d’Amore at the Astana Opera serves as a panacea for gloom, prescribed with great affection. The Operaliya festival has now reached its midpoint, yet it has already achieved its primary goal: a reminder that art, much like the elixir from Dulcamara’s vial, truly possesses the power to change people for the better. It inspires them to smile, moves them to tears, and brings them to their feet in a standing ovation.