''Birzhan and Sara'' (Russian: Биржан и Сара) is an

opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...

of 2 acts and 4 scenes by the Kazakh composer (1914–1973) to a

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

by (1907–1968)"Marynsky theater presents the opera ''Birzhan and Sara''"
''Ballet and Opera'', March 10, 2014. in

Kazakh language Kazakh is a Turkic language of the Kipchak branch spoken in Central Asia by Kazakhs. It is closely related to Nogai, Kyrgyz and Karakalpak. It is the official language of Kazakhstan, and has official status in the Altai Republic of Russia ...

,"Tulebaev opera ''Birzhan and Sara''"
''Belcanto''. (in Russian) inspired by the

aytys Aitysh ( ; ) is the name for the primarily folk-oriented, oral tradition of improvised singing and oratory between two parties referred to in Kazakh as akyns but found throughout Central Asia. Each akyn, usually sitting close to each other, strums ...

(folk poetry) of .

Performance history

The opera premiered in

Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...

(Alma-Ata) on November 7, 1946, and was performed in Moscow on December 6, 1958. The libretto has been adapted in

Turkish Turkish may refer to: * Something related to Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities in the former Ottoman Empire * The w ...

, and the opera was played in

Samsun Samsun is a List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, city on the north coast of Turkey and a major Black Sea port. The urban area recorded a population of 738,692 in 2022. The city is the capital of Samsun Province which has a population of ...

in 2013, and in

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

Bursa Bursa () is a city in northwestern Turkey and the administrative center of Bursa Province. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the Marmara Region, Bursa is one of the industrial centers of the country. Most of ...

Eskişehir Eskişehir ( , ; from 'old' and 'city') is a city in northwestern Turkey and the capital of the Eskişehir Province. The urban population of the city is 821 315 (Odunpazari + Tebebasi), with a metropolitan population of 921 630. The city is l ...

and

Ankara Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...

in 2014.Great Success for M. Tulebayev's Birjan and Sarah
''Turksoy'', June 16, 2014. The work is part of

Astana Opera Astana Opera () is an opera house in Astana, Kazakhstan, on the basis of an executive order of Nursultan Nazarbayev. History of design and construction The design has been partially made by Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the construction began on 6 ...

's repertoire.Repertoire
of

Roles

* Birzhan, poet and popular singer –

tenor A tenor is a type of male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. Composers typically write music for this voice in the range from the second B below m ...

* Birzhan's mother –

mezzo-soprano A mezzo-soprano (, ), or mezzo ( ), is a type of classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. The mezzo-soprano's vocal range usually extends from the A bel ...

* Birzhan's father –

baritone A baritone is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the bass (voice type), bass and the tenor voice type, voice-types. It is the most common male voice. The term originates from the ...

* Estay, friend of Birzhan – tenor * Sara, popular singer –

soprano A soprano () is a type of classical singing voice and has the highest vocal range of all voice types. The soprano's vocal range (using scientific pitch notation) is from approximately middle C (C4) = 261 Hertz, Hz to A5 in Choir, choral ...

* Zhienkul,

bey Bey, also spelled as Baig, Bayg, Beigh, Beig, Bek, Baeg, Begh, or Beg, is a Turkic title for a chieftain, and a royal, aristocratic title traditionally applied to people with special lineages to the leaders or rulers of variously sized areas in ...

– bariton * Zhambota, local chief – baritone * Altynay, Zhambota's daughter – soprano * Serik, Zhanbota's bodyguard – tenor

Synopsis

Different variants of the story exist, as the libretto has been adapted several times, being translated into

, or to create a different staging.''Birzhan – Sara''
summary for the play on December 9 of 2015 at

Act 1

* Scene 1 During a fair Birzhan and Sara, both popular singers, sing a lyric duet in the main square of the Kazakh village of Kuyandy; inhabitants gather around them to listen. Altynay, in love with Birzhan, questions Estay to know whether her feelings are shared, and manages to find out that Birzhan is in love with Sara. Local chief Zhanbota, Altynay's father, comes to the market place with his brother Zhienkul and his guards. Zhienkul wants Sara to marry him and become his fourth wife. Sara refuses, and Birjan sings a song to make fun of Zhanbota and Zhienkul. Gards grasp him. As the village people show their disapproval, Zhanbota and his guards leave. People rejoice that Sara and Bizhan are safe * Scene 2 Birzhan is near a lake and sings his love to Sara, playing music with his

dombra The dombra, also known as dombyra (; ) is a long-necked musical string instrument used by the Kazakhs, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Nogais, Bashkirs, and Tatars in their traditional folk music. The dombra shares certain characteristics with the ko ...

. Village people, including Birzhan's parents, join him and warn him to distrust Zhanbota. Birzhan is not afraid, and sings the freedom of people, evoking the famous poet

Abai Abai or ABAI may refer to: People * Abai (martyr) (died 363), saint of the Syrian Church * Abai Ikwechegh (born 1923), Nigerian jurist * Abai Qunanbaiuly (1845-1904), Kazakh poet and philosopher * Abai Tasbolatov (born 1951), Kazakh politician ...

. Altynay came to see Birzhan, but Estay prevents her to meet him. Birzhan and Sara swear each other faithfulness and eternal love. Zhanbota comes and abducts Sara to bring her to Zhienkula.

Act 2

* Scene 1 Preparation of the wedding of Sara and Zhienkul. Sara says him that she will never accept to be his wife. Birzhan comes. Zhienkul is angry and calls his gards. Birzhan is arrested * Scene two Serik falls asleep while guarding Birzhan's cell. Sara comes, manages to take the keys of the cell from him, and joins her lover. Altynay sees everything and warns Zhienkul. The bey intervenes, and orders an immediate trial for Sara, which takes place immediately, and Sara is sentenced to death. But Zhienkul cannot appreciate the execution of the sentence, as a crowd of village people, led by Estay, frees Birzhan and Sara. Desesperated, Altynay comes close to Sara and stabs her. Sara dies. Heartbroken, Birzhan laies on his beloved for the last time.

Variant

Under different variants, Birzhan might die instead of Sara.

References

External links

* ,

{{Authority control 1946 operas Kazakh-language operas Operas based on myths and legends Operas