“Night at the Opera” Draws More Than 5,000 Spectators to an Open-Air Performance in Almaty
Almaty hosted the large-scale “Night at the Opera” project, marking a memorable finale to the 92nd theatrical season of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre.
The concert took place in an open-air format on the square in front of the theatre and brought together more than 5,000 residents and visitors to the city. For one evening, the space outside the theatre was transformed into an open-air stage where masterpieces of international and Kazakh opera were performed.
The project became part of Almaty’s evolving cultural rhythm. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had previously emphasized the importance of developing the city as a metropolis that operates around the clock for the benefit of its residents and visitors. “Night at the Opera” demonstrated the strong public interest in cultural events held in open urban spaces.
The evening’s programme featured excerpts from the operas “Birzhan–Sara,” “Abai,” “Aida,” “Turandot,” “La traviata,” “La bohème,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Norma,” “Samson and Delilah,” and other works. The programme also included Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna” and the song “Gül Almatym,” performed by the artists together with the audience.
More than 200 artists took part in the project, including the theatre’s leading soloists, chorus, and symphony orchestra. Nurzhan Baibusinov and Kuanysh Ismailov conducted the performance. The chorus was prepared by Chief Chorus Master Aliya Temirbekova. Stage direction was by Natalia Kagadiy and Alua Sabo.