Kazakh opera in the dialogue of traditions: Transformation of national heritage in the world academic vocal art

Year 2025, Volume: 13 Issue: 4, 499 - 528, 30.12.2025

Almat Izbambetov , Toizhan Eginbaeva

https://doi.org/10.12975/rastmd.20251346

Abstract

Kazakh opera is an original phenomenon in the history of musical art, which arose as a result of the dynamic interaction of the national musical heritage of Kazakhstan with Russian and Western European opera traditions. Starting from the earliest works such as Kyz Zhibek by E. Brusilovsky, Abai by A. Zhubanov and L. Khamidi and Birzhan-Sara by M. Tulebaev, Kazakh composers sought to integrate folklore elements into the academic opera form. This synthesis included not only direct quoting of folk songs, but also a reinterpretation of the Kazakh intonation system within the framework of opera dramaturgy. The influence of Russian opera, especially with regard to the use of folklore material as a dramatic basis, and the borrowing of Western European forms, including the bel canto vocal technique, played a decisive role in shaping the national style. A distinctive feature of this process is the introduction of symphonic thinking into Kazakh opera. Drawing inspiration from Russian composers who expanded the scale and depth of the opera through symphonic development, Kazakh composers combined this structural approach with national melodic and rhythmic features. This combination has made Kazakh opera more accessible to both local, Russian and international audiences. The expressive potential of this genre has been further expanded due to the psychological depth of the arias, where the music goes beyond simple accompaniment and becomes an independent dramatic element. The bel canto technique, adapted to the phonetic, harmonic and declamatory features of the Kazakh language, contributed to the emergence of a national opera style combining European technical skill with the plasticity and emotional richness of the Kazakh melody. In the context of globalization, Kazakh opera serves as an example of cultural hybridity, where traditions are not eroded, but are revived in dialogue with world artistic practices. Modern productions demonstrate the genre’s continued ability to preserve its cultural identity while simultaneously seeking renewal and international recognition, ensuring its relevance in the cultural arena of the 21st century.

Keywords

Abai , bel canto adaptation , Birzhan–Sara , intercultural synthesis , Kyz Zhibek , ocal performance analysis

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