Opera & Ballet Theater, Almaty

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Abai Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

For over half a century, the Abai Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre has delighted audiences with its theatrical and operatic productions, musical performances, and ballet showcases. Built between 1936 and 1941 by architects N.A. Prostakov and T.K. Basenov, the theatre quickly gained fame not only in its home city but beyond. The first Kazakh ballet performance, “Kaklaman and Mamyr,” took place in 1938, marking the beginning of a celebrated artistic journey.

The theatre’s reputation expanded rapidly, with its theatrical and ballet troupes earning numerous international awards. Today, it remains a popular venue to witness classical ballet or experience traditional Kazakh performances. The theatre building itself is a historical monument and is even featured on the 2,000 tenge banknote.

The theatre maintains close collaborations with performance companies worldwide. Its repertoire includes both ballet and opera productions based on works by Kazakh writers and recognized international classics. Every year, the theatre hosts international arts festivals, with performances in both Russian and Kazakh. Works by Pushkin and Lermontov, such as “Eugene Onegin” and “The Demon,” have been adapted into Kazakh, alongside traditional Kazakh productions like “Nergiz” and “Chio-Chio-San.”

The theatre’s current building was completed in 1941, standing as the largest and most beautiful structure in the city at the time. The project underwent several revisions before arriving at its final design, which features a richly ornamented facade reminiscent of the Alexandrinsky Theatre. Built in a classical style, the theatre’s grandeur is highlighted by a colonnade of stoas and a prominent portico with four square-sectioned columns. The main structure is elevated on a low, wide stylobate, with massive pilasters supporting the facade.

The building’s design gives the impression that the lower floor acts as a robust foundation, enhanced by the use of heavy rusticated stonework. The second and third floors, in contrast, feature finer ornamentation. The portico’s pilasters merge seamlessly into the load-bearing walls, while the facade is adorned with bas-reliefs, including a central depiction of the poet Zhambyl and his companions, symbolizing artistic creativity and fertility. Other bas-reliefs illustrate military battles and scenes from the Kazakh epic. The national spirit is echoed in the columns, walls, and ceilings, with folk motifs influencing the interior design.

In the early 2000s, the theatre underwent significant restoration. The original decor was meticulously preserved, while modern materials were used to enhance the architectural features. Some changes were made, including updates to the rooftop ornaments and the smoothing of the walls on the second floor. The theatre’s chandelier was also replaced, with the ceiling above it newly painted. The surrounding grounds were revitalized with gardens, fountains, and busts of prominent cultural figures like Mukhtar Auezov and Zhambyl Zhabayev, creating an enchanting atmosphere within Almaty’s “Golden Square.”

History of the Theatre

The Abai Theatre was founded in 1934, initially based on a music studio established the previous year. Its first performance, “Aiman Sholpan,” was staged in January 1934, with a libretto written by M. Auezov. The production incorporated traditional Kazakh songs arranged by I. Kotsyk. The pioneer of Kazakhstan’s operatic art, Yevgeny Brusilovsky, became the theatre’s first composer, writing significant works such as “Kyz Zhibek” (1934), “Zhalbyr” (1935), and “Yer Targyn” (1936).

In 1938, the ballet troupe was formed, debuting with Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” That same year saw the premiere of the first national ballet, “Kaklaman and Mamyr,” composed by V. Velikanov. Throughout the Great Patriotic War, the theatre continued its performances, often held at night, with proceeds going to support the war effort. During this time, many of the Soviet Union’s finest artists sought refuge in Almaty, and the theatre became a sanctuary for these talents.

In 1941, the theatre was granted academic status, and four years later, it was named after Abai, the revered Kazakh poet, philosopher, and cultural reformer. The post-war years saw the theatre focusing on national productions such as the opera “Abai,” the Uyghur opera “Nazugum,” and ballets like “The Jungar Gates,” “The Fountain of Bakhchisarai,” and “Kambar and Nazym.”

Gaziz Dugashev, a brilliant Kazakh conductor, served as the theatre’s chief conductor three times between the 1950s and 1960s. He also collaborated with major theatres across the Soviet Union, including those in Ukraine, Belarus, and at the Bolshoi Theatre. In recognition of its outstanding contributions to Soviet society’s cultural development, the theatre was awarded the prestigious Lenin Order in 1959.

The 1960s and 1970s saw the premiere of productions like the ballet “Kozy-Korpesh and Bayan-Sulu” and the operas “Zhumak Kyz” (“The Mysterious Girl”) and “Golden Mountains.” During the 1980s, Valery Rutter directed 15 operas and ballets, further enhancing the theatre’s legacy.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union brought hard times, with little funding and dwindling public interest. In 1996, the theatre’s building underwent renovations, and the performers had to move from one venue to another. However, the crisis was eventually overcome, and the theatre reopened in 2000, once again drawing crowds. In 2015, the theatre introduced an automated ticketing system, and in 2016, a museum dedicated to its history was established within the building.

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