Ballet Coppélia dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Rakul Tazhiyeva’s birth

The Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre dedicates the performance of L. Delibes’ ballet Coppélia to the 100th anniversary of Rakul Tazhiyeva, Honored Artist of the Kazakh SSR and one of the greatest ballerinas in the history of our country.

Rakul Tazhiyeva entered the chronicle of culture as the first Kazakh ballerina to receive professional classical choreographic training. Her art became a symbol of the synthesis of world ballet traditions and the national spirit. During her years of service at the Abay Theatre, she embodied dozens of roles on stage, among which Svanilda in the ballet Coppélia held a special place.

Rakul Tazhiyeva’s achievements were recognized with the Order of the Red Banner of Labour and high state honors. After completing her stage career, she devoted herself to teaching, sharing her experience with young artists at the Almaty Choreographic School.

The forthcoming performance is a tribute to the memory of a master whose name became a symbol of the formative era of Kazakhstani ballet.

April 24, 2026

19.00

L. Delibes

Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Rakul Tazhiyeva

Coppélia

Ballet in 2 acts

Libretto by Ch. Nuitter and A. Saint-Léon
(based on the stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann)

Choreography by M. Petipa and G. Tutkibayeva

Production Team

Production Conductor – Yerbolat Akhmediyarov, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Artistic Director of the Ballet Company – Gulzhan Tutkibayeva, People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Designer – Vyacheslav Okunev, People’s Artist of Russia, Laureate of State Prizes

Characters and Performers

• Svanilda
  Aiman Yegisbayeva
• Franz
  Rafael Urazov
• Coppelius
  Amir Zheksenbek
• Coppélia, doll
  Ao Iwasaki
• Burgomaster
  Dauren Zhenis
• Czardas
  Gulnaziya Piltan, Eldar Abilov
• Svanilda’s friends
  Dina Auelbek, Ao Iwasaki, Dinara Kudabayeva, Akzhunis Tolegen, Nuray Nursafina, Milana Rakhimbekova
• Franz’s friends
  Akyl Zhuas, Dias Kubashev, Daryn Tairbekov, Daniyar Ryskul
• Innkeeper
  Aziz Yessenbayev

• Variations:

• Morning
  Akbota Bekbolatova
• Day
  Adiya Manabassova

• Symphony Orchestra and Ballet of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre

• Conductor – Mukhtar Kaldayakov