“Opera Night” United Thousands of Almaty Residents Under the Open Sky
More than 200 artists took part in the realization of this monumental project, reports vapress.kz.
The Kazakh National Abay Opera and Ballet Theatre successfully presented its large-scale Opera Night project, which became the spectacular finale of the theatre’s 92nd season.
This unique cultural initiative turned into a true celebration of music and beauty, earning widespread public acclaim and becoming one of the most remarkable cultural events of the year.
The event extended far beyond the traditional theatre format, vividly reflecting Almaty’s vision for urban development. On the eve of the event, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in an interview with the newspaper Turkistan, emphasized that Almaty should evolve into a metropolis operating around the clock—similar to New York, Moscow, and Paris—serving the needs of both residents and visitors 24/7. The scale and atmosphere of Opera Night became a living embodiment of this vision: the city came alive with art after dark, bringing thousands of people together through the timeless values of classical music.
The open-air concert held in the square in front of the theatre exceeded all expectations, attracting more than 5,000 spectators. Residents travelled from every part of Almaty, including its most distant districts, to experience the magic of great opera.
For one unforgettable evening, the square transformed into a vast open-air auditorium beneath the stars. Accompanied by the theatre’s Symphony Orchestra, the leading soloists and chorus presented an impressive musical panorama. The audience listened in rapt silence to masterpieces of the world classical repertoire—from Carl Orff’s monumental O Fortuna to dramatic scenes from operas by Verdi and Puccini—as well as treasured gems of Kazakhstan’s national musical heritage, including excerpts from the operas Birzhan–Sara and Abai. The emotional climax of the evening came when thousands of spectators joined the soloists in singing the beloved song “Gül Almatym”, creating an unforgettable moment of unity between artists and audience.
More than 200 performers participated in this extraordinary project, including internationally acclaimed opera stars and outstanding young artists, highlighting the continuity of generations within the distinguished opera tradition of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre. The musical foundation of the evening was provided by the theatre’s Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The concert was conducted by Nurzhan Baibussinov and Kuanysh Ismailov. The exceptional precision and expressive power of the chorus were prepared by Chief Chorus Master Aliya Temirbekova, while Stage Director Natalya Kagadiy and Director Alua Sabo masterfully shaped the evening into a unified artistic concept, transforming the concert into a compelling theatrical spectacle.
A completely full audience, heartfelt emotions, and thousands of Almaty residents singing together proved that Opera Night has become a vibrant new tradition of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre and a significant step toward strengthening Almaty’s status as a cultural capital where art flourishes around the clock.