Postcard from Bishkek

It is said that professional theatre began in Kyrgyzstan with the creation, in 1926, of a musical-drama studio in Frunze, (as Bishkek was then known).

The first, locally produced, musical-drama (“Altyn Kyz” – “Golden Girl”) was staged in 1926 quickly followed by a number of others authored by local artistes, based on traditional folklore, such as “Adzhal Orduna” – “Not death, Life”.

The first Kyrgyz Opera, ”Aichurek” – based on part of the Manas epic – by Maldibaev, (the Kyrgyz composer who appears on the 1 som banknote), was performed in 1939.  The first national Ballet – Anar – was staged in 1940 – based on themes from Kyrgyz national games and traditions.

During the upheaval of the Second World War the music-drama theatre was reorganized, in 1942, as the State Theatre of Opera and Ballet.  Two years later (in 1944) the first Kyrgyz ballet (“Cholpon”) was staged and later filmed.

Amongst the stars of Kyrgyz Opera and Ballet are Bubusara, the ballerina who appears on the 5 som banknote, Maldibaev who, as well as being a noted composer, was also a talented Tenor and the bass singer, Bulat Minzjilkiev.

The present Opera and Ballet theatre in Bishkek was built in 1953 and in 1958 the company performed over 200 different operas and ballets – including: Boris Gudunov; Prince Igor; Evgeniy Onegin, Iolanta, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Aida, Rigoletto, Il Traviatore, Carmen, Don Carlos, Faust, Mestopholes and, of course, local compositions such as Cholpon.  Most of these are still in the company’s repertoire … although they don’t manage 200 performances a year any more.  The theater also hosts performances by visiting artistes and companies from, for example, Kazakhstan, Russia, France and further afield.

(Performances are usually held at weekends and tend to start early … at 4:00, 5:00 or 6:00pm.)