Kulyash Baiseitova (1912-1957) is the Soviet, Kazakh opera singer, dramatic actress, People’s artist of the USSR, Laureate of the two Stalinist prizes of the second step.

According to one of the sources, she is from Vernyi city, current Almaty, and in accordance with other sources, she was born in the steppes of Sary-Arka in the village of Aktogai district of the Karagandy region. Kulyash was brought to Almaty at the age of 12, and for some time, she had lived in a boarding school.

Baiseitova’s natural musical talent manifested itself early. She memorized and performed the songs she had heard from her father Jasyn. In 1925-1928, she studied at the Almaty Pedagogical College, participated in amateur music. In 1930, she entered the studio of the theater, established in 1926 in Kyzyl-Orda and transferred to Alma-Ata in 1929, known today as the Auezov Kazakh State Academic Drama Theater. Here, Baiseitova played the roles of Agafya Tikhonovna (“Marriage” by N.V. Gogol), Klavdia (“Submarine” by M.Y. Triger), Pulish (“Front” by B.J. Mailin), Zaure (“Zaure” by Kanybek Baiseitov and J.T. Shanin), Yenlik (“Yenlik – Kebek” by M.O. Auezov).

At the beginning of her career, the opera star sang in a low voice (as required by the national traditions of female singing), but later, it turned out that her talent was to perform the works by a high coloratura soprano – a peculiar, light and transparent voice with a uniquely silvery timbre.

In 1933, Kulyash joined the troupe of the Musical Theater (now, the Abai State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater), where she was performing until the end of her life. Baiseitova’s musical and stage talent was vividly manifested in the creation of the image of Aiman in the musical comedy by M. O. Auezov and I. V. Kotsyk “Aiman—Sholpan”. Her name was heard throughout the country, and the people, ahead of official recognition, gave her their high “title” – “Kazakh nightingale”. The images she created in the operas by Russian and Kazakh composers made up a whole gallery of opposite characters. Baiseitova performed the roles of Kadisha, Akzhunus, Aisha, Saira, Zere, Raushan in the “Zhalbyr”, “Er Targyn”, “Golden Grain”, “Guard, forward!” operas by E.G.Brussilovsky, “Beket” (outstation) by Silber and “Deep Lake” by Nadirov. The images of Azhar (“Abai” by Akhmet Zhubanov and L. A. Khamidi) and Sarah (“Birzhan and Sarah” by M. T. Tulebayev) are the highest in Baiseitova’s work. For the first time at the Kazakh opera stage, Baiseitova performed the parts from classical operas: Butterfly (“Cio-Cio-san” by G. Puccini), Tatyana (“Eugene Onegin” by P. Tchaikovsky), Tamara (“The Demon” by A. G. Rubinstein), Maro (“Daishi” by Paliashvili) and Altynshash (“Altynshash” by N. Zhiganov).

Kulyash Baiseitova shone in the starry sky of opera art not only in the Union, but also, far beyond its borders. At just 24 years old, she received the title of People’s Artist of the Soviet Union. Such an honor was given to a few individuals only, but at such a young age – no one at all. Kulyash was a part of an important historical event – the appearance of the first Kazakh opera “Kyz Zhibek”, whose author, Eugene Brussilovsky, created specifically for her wonderful voice. By the power of her talent, she made the opera famous. She conquered Moscow with this musical masterpiece.

“I could not name a singer with whom I could compare her, her high, light and transparent voice is so individual and peculiar.… The silvery timbre ... really resembles the singing of a bird, and Kulyash Baiseitova deservedly, was called the “Kazakh nightingale without the slightest stretch and exaggeration”, - wrote V. Barsova, an outstanding singer, People’s Artist of the USSR, soloist of the Bolshoi (Big) Theater.

Kulyash Baiseitova as “Kyz-Zhibek” in 1943

Like many talented people, Kulyash Baiseitova passed away early. The singer died at the age of 45 in 1957 during a tour in Moscow.

There are the streets in Almaty and Astana cities that named after Kulyash Baiseitova. In 2004, the Kazakhfilm studio released a musical film “Aul Kulyash” (directed by Murat Mussin). In 2012, the film “Legends and Myths of the Opera: Kulyash Baiseitova” was shot (special prize of the TEFI - Commonwealth Festival - 2012). In 2013, the Kazakh television series “Kulyash” about the life of the singer was released as well.

Awards of Kulyash Baiseitova:

• Honored Artist of the Kazakh SSR (1934);
• People’s Artist of the USSR (1936);
• Order of the Red Banner of Labor (1936);
• Order of Lenin (1945);
• Stalin Prize of the second degree (1948) – for the concert and performing activities;
• Stalin Prize of the second degree (1949) – for the performance of the main role in the “Birzhan and Sarah” opera by M. T. Tulebayev.