Two stars of the Hungarian National Ballet, Kazakh prima ballerina assoluta Aliya Tanykpaeva and principal dancer Zoltan Olah will perform a new 3D production of Swan Lake at the Astana Opera Theatre. The magic of the classic Tchaikovsky masterpiece will be presented April 1-2, according the opera press service.
The tale of the beautiful Odette transformed into a swan by a curse will entrance Astana audiences in April. Photograph: Herman Péter
Both artists expressed great anticipation before the premiere and said it is an honour for them to perform on the opera stage together with the Kazakh ballet company.
“Swan Lake is one of our favorite classic performances. It is a fascinating tale that became a world-famous phenomenon,” said the dancers.
There are more than a thousand interpretations of the classic work and this time ballet lovers will enjoy the staging created by Kazakh honoured artists Tursynbek Nurkaliyev and Galiya Buribayeva. Italian designers Ezio Frigerio and Franca Squarciapino made astounding and colourful stage decorations and costumes.
An Oscar winner, Squarciapino presented garments with folklore motifs for every national group presented in the ball scene, such as Hungarians, Poles, Spaniards and Napoli people. The incorporated 3D technology enlivens the lake, making the audience feel like the water is striving to wash over the stage into the hall.
Tanykpaeva, a Kazakh honored artist, graduated from the A.W. Seleznev Choreographic Institute and T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts in Almaty. She held the position of prima ballerina in the Kazakh Academic Ensemble of Classical Dance (1999-2001), Imperial Russian Ballet (2001-2005), Vienna State Opera (2005-2009) and Zurich Opera House (2009-2011). Since 2012 the Kazakh dancer has worked in the Hungarian State Opera House. Tanykpaeva was the 2003 Grand Prix winner of the International Ballet Competition in Luxembourg and took third place the following year at the International Ballet Competition in Perm, Russia.
Olah graduated from the Hungarian National Academy of Dance in 2001, then improved his professional skills in Germany, Austria, Great Britain, Spain, the United States and Japan. Since 2001, Olah has been the soloist of the Hungarian State Opera. The dancer took second place at the Second National Ballet Competition in Pecs, Hungary in 1998 and third place the next year at the International Ballet Competition in Vienna. Among his numerous awards are the Nívó (2001), Tériné Horváth Margit (2001), Gyula Harangozó Prize (2006), Gundel Art Prize (2008,) Junior Prima (2008), Hungarian Ballet and Modern Dance Award (2008), EuroPAS (2010) and The Best Dancer of the Year (2014).
