WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN

Two months, artists from 16 countries, and events that, for the first time, went beyond the theatrical stage. The International Music Festival "Operalia-2026" is approaching its grand finale, for which the organizers have chosen a work commensurate with the scale of the entire project. On July 11 and 12, "Astana Opera" will present Giuseppe Verdi's "Don Carlo" – an opera about power and freedom, love and duty, the loneliness of a ruler, and the price of human choice.The performances will not only be the final chord of the festival, which started on May 21, but also the solemn conclusion of the XIII theatrical season of "Astana Opera". The principal conductor of the theatre, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alan Buribayev, will take the conductor's stand – he is also the production conductor of the performance.The finale with "Don Carlo" seems logical. It is one of Verdi's most complex and monumental scores, where the scale of historical canvas is combined with deeply personal dramas of the characters. There are no unambiguous characters or simple solutions here: each character faces a choice between their own feelings, public duty, political necessity, and fear of the system.The opera is based on Friedrich Schiller's play, which refers to events in 16th-century Spanish history. However, Verdi did not create a historical chronicle. The composer was primarily interested in man and power – how the state machine invades personal life, destroys trust, and turns even the possessor of absolute power into a prisoner of his own position.At the center of the plot is Infante Don Carlo, son of the Spanish King Philip II. His beloved, Elisabeth of Valois, becomes his father's wife for political peace between Spain and France. The personal tragedy unfolds against the backdrop of the struggle for Flanders' freedom, court intrigues, and the omnipotent influence of the Inquisition. Therefore, "Don Carlo" is perceived simultaneously as a love drama, a political tragedy, and a reflection on the nature of power.A special place in the opera is occupied by the image of Philip II. The audience sees not only a stern monarch but also a lonely man who cannot find trust either in his family or at court. In the famous scenes of the king, external steadfastness gradually gives way to internal vulnerability.On July 11, this role will be performed by Italian bass Giacomo Prestia – one of the recognized interpreters of the Verdi repertoire. The singer has performed on the stages of Milan's La Scala, the Vienna State Opera, the Paris National Opera, Naples' Teatro San Carlo, and other leading theaters around the world. For the artist, the performance in Astana will be his first introduction to the Kazakh public.According to Giacomo Prestia, the role of Philip II remains one of his closest, despite dozens of performances in different countries.– The role of Philip II is my favorite. I have performed it dozens of times all over the world. It is one of the most rewarding roles for a bass, as it provides immense opportunities for both vocal and acting interpretation, – the singer said.Working on the king's image, the artist turned not only to the score and libretto but also to historical sources.– Philip was a real historical figure, so I thoroughly studied his biography, acquainted myself with various materials and the history of 16th-century Spain. For me, it is important to show not a conventional opera monarch, but a complex person who found himself within a huge system of power, – noted Giacomo Prestia.The singer admits that before his arrival, he heard many reviews about the Kazakh theatre and its audience.– Colleagues who have already performed at "Astana Opera" told me that the audience here is very well-prepared and especially appreciates voices from the Verdi repertoire. This is my first performance in Astana, and I can't wait to get acquainted with the theatre, go on stage with Kazakh singers, and present my interpretation of Philip II to the audience. I am sure this will be a wonderful experience for me, – the artist emphasized.In the second performance, on July 12, the image of the Spanish king will be presented by Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Evgeniy Chainikov. Thus, the audience will be able to see two different interpretations of one of the most psychologically rich bass roles in the opera repertoire.No less significant is the image of the Grand Inquisitor – a force before which even the king must retreat. In this role, Honored Artist of Russia, soloist of the Moscow Musical Theatre "Helikon-Opera" Mikhail Guzhov will perform on both festival evenings. The dialogue between Philip II and the Grand Inquisitor is considered one of the culminating scenes of the work: it pits the monarch's formal power against the power of an institution that recognizes no limitations above itself.The title role will be performed by leading soloists of "Astana Opera" – Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Medet Chotabayev and Sayan Isin. Don Carlo demands from the singer not only vocal endurance but also the ability to convey the character's internal instability, torn between his love for Elisabeth, his friendship with Rodrigo, and his desire to defend the oppressed people of Flanders.In the image of Elisabeth of Valois, Honored Workers of Kazakhstan Bibigul Zhanuzak and Zhupar Gabdullina will appear on stage. Their heroine is forced to sacrifice personal happiness for peace between states, maintaining dignity even when any manifestation of feeling could be interpreted as betrayal.The role of Marquis Rodrigo – Don Carlo's friend and a defender of the idea of freedom – will be performed by Honored Workers of Kazakhstan Talgat Mussabayev and Rasul Zharmagambetov. Princess Eboli will be presented by Saltanat Muratbekova and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Tatyana Vitsinskaya.The lineup of participants allows "Don Carlo" to be seen not merely as the arrival of a foreign star or another performance from the current repertoire. Different performing schools and artistic traditions will meet on stage. Kazakh soloists will perform alongside artists for whom Verdi's music has been an important part of their international career for many years.For "Operalia-2026", such a production becomes the culmination of the festival program, built on the dialogue of cultures. For two months, the project united artists from 16 countries, expanded the usual geography of theatrical events, and for the first time went beyond the "Astana Opera" building. The finale returns the festival to the main stage, but now with the artistic experience accumulated over two months."Don Carlo" does not promise the audience an easy season finale. This is music that demands attention, emotional engagement, and a willingness to listen not only to the voices but also to the pauses between them. Verdi shows a world where almost every hero suffers defeat but continues to defend their right to love, believe, befriend, and remain free.This is precisely why the final performances will not just be a grand concluding note on the playbill. Concluding the XIII season and the international festival, "Astana Opera" offers the public a work in which the grandeur of form is inseparable from the complexity of human destiny. "Operalia-2026" will end not with a loud celebratory gesture, but with one of the deepest questions that opera can ask the audience: can a person preserve themselves where power demands they abandon their own feelings and convictions?