From 26 to 28 June, the long-awaited performances of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, staged by the unsurpassed Italian master Franco Zeffirelli, will be presented at the Astana Opera. As part of the Operaliya International Music Festival, an exceptional cast of international and Kazakh opera stars will perform in one of the most monumental productions in the history of global operatic art.
Aida at the Astana Opera is a landmark event, highly anticipated by the capital’s audience. Zeffirelli’s grand production, transferred to the Kazakh stage from Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in 2014, astounds with its majestic grandeur every time. To recreate the opulent beauty of Ancient Egypt during the era of the pharaohs, multi-level, massive, multi-layered sets with a lifting capacity of 30 tonnes are erected on stage. Furthermore, 500 costumes, designed by Maurizio Millenotti, transform the performance into a living museum of the ancient world. More than 400 opera soloists, chorus singers, ballet dancers, and supernumeraries take part in the large-scale crowd scenes.
This year, the production will bring together brilliant soloists from Kazakhstan, Mexico, Italy, and Russia.
On 27 June, the role of King Amonasro, Aida’s father, will be performed by guest soloist Carlos Almaguer from Mexico. One of the most sought-after dramatic baritones of the modern era, he is a laureate of international competitions in Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, as well as a recipient of state honours in Mexico. His extensive repertoire features the leading roles in the masterpieces of Verdi and Puccini, including Rigoletto, Macbeth, Simon Boccanegra, Nabucco, and Scarpia (Tosca), among others. Almaguer has graced the world’s most prestigious stages, including London’s Royal Opera House, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Arena di Verona, and many others.
“I look forward to participating in Aida at Astana Opera,” shares Carlos Almaguer. “Amonasro is one of Verdi’s most fascinating baritone roles because he combines the authority of a king, the love of a father, and the suffering of a man whose country has been defeated. My preparation always begins with a deep study of the score and the text, trying to understand not only what he says, but also what he feels in every moment. On stage, I strive to convey to the audience the humanity, strength, and emotional complexity of this character. I have already had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some of my distinguished colleagues invited to this festival. I have performed Aida in La Coruña and Attila in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with Giacomo Prestia, whom I greatly admire both as an artist and as a person. I have also sung Tosca with Amadi Lagha in Tirana, Albania. They are artists of exceptional quality, and I deeply appreciate them both professionally and personally,” says Almaguer.
“It is a great honour to participate in this international festival at Astana Opera. I wish the festival every success and thank the audience for their continued support of opera and the performing arts. I hope that our performance of Aida will offer them an unforgettable musical and emotional experience, and that this celebration of opera will continue to bring artists and audiences together from around the world,” the Mexican singer concluded.
That same evening, the role of Amneris, the insidious and passionate daughter of the Pharaoh, will be performed by Anastasia Boldyreva (Russia / Italy), who is rightfully regarded as one of the most compelling mezzo-sopranos of her generation. A laureate of prestigious international programmes and a winner of the HSBC Young Artists Tour, she has collaborated with such legendary masters as Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Plácido Domingo, Gianandrea Noseda, and Bertrand de Billy. Her impressive career includes appearances at the world’s most renowned venues, including Arena di Verona, major opera houses of Rome, Naples, and Palermo, as well as Carnegie Hall.
On 26 and 28 June, the role of the military commander Radamès will be performed by Amadi Lagha (Italy / France). The Franco-Tunisian tenor began honing his artistry at the Conservatoire de Paris. Among his most acclaimed interpretations are Calaf in Turandot (performed in Shanghai, Beijing, Valencia, and at the Puccini Festival), Cavaradossi in Tosca, and Don José in Carmen (at the Arena di Verona), alongside many others. Gracing Europe’s leading stages, the artist’s repertoire places a profound emphasis on dramatic tenor roles – most notably, of course, Radamès.
Naturally, the capital’s audience can also look forward to appearances by their most cherished resident soloists. The title role of Aida will be interpreted by the country’s leading voices: Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Zhupar Gabdullina (26 and 28 June) and Ulpan Aubakirova. Amneris will be portrayed by Honoured Worker of Kazakhstan Tatyana Vitsinskaya and Gulzhanat Sapakova (26 and 28 June), Radamès – Sayan Issin (27 June). The role of the King of Egypt will be shared by Shyngys Rassylkhan, a laureate of the Daryn State Youth Award (26 and 28 June), and Bolat Yessimkhanov. The cast also features Talgat Mussabayev as Amonasro (26 and 28 June), Sargis Bazhbeuk-Melikyan and Shyngys Rassylkhan as Ramfis, alongside the opera company’s principal soloists, chorus singers, ballet dancers, and supernumeraries. The Astana Opera Symphony Orchestra will be led by the distinguished conductor and People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, Abzal Mukhitdin.
It is worth recalling that Aida is, at its heart, a magnificent ode to a love that triumphs over death. Commissioned by the Egyptian government to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal, the opera received its world premiere in Cairo on 24 December 1871, followed by a triumphant run in Milan. Within this monumental masterpiece, a deeply personal drama, fraught with intense conflict, unfolds against a backdrop of opulent processions and resounding anthems. Through the depiction of the ruthless priests, Giuseppe Verdi fiercely condemned the religious obscurantism he so despised. Standing in stark opposition to this tyranny is the spiritual beauty and moral fortitude of Aida and Radamès, whose profound love endures every ordeal, remaining unyielding even in the face of death.