Astana Opera’s stage director Yerenbak Toikenov became the first Kazakhstani in history to pass the qualifying stage and become a participant in the 5th International Competition for Young Opera Directors “Nano-Opera”. Ten contenders for prizes, critics’ award and the audience award were selected from more than two hundred applicants, Delovoy Kazakhstan reports.
The competition is held by the Moscow Musical Theatre “Helikon-Opera” together with the Department of Culture of the city of Moscow from May 22 to 28. The “Nano-Opera” competition has existed since 2013 and takes place every two years. The highly professional jury includes artistic directors, general directors and stage directors of leading international opera houses, well-known theatrical managers and producers. The most important award is the Grand Prix of the competition – staging a performance at “Helikon-Opera”. The participants will also have the opportunity to receive a certificate for staging a production at other opera houses.
“Competitions for stage directors of musical theatre are a rarity in the international cultural arena, and “Nano-Opera” is probably one of the three most regarded competitions in the world, an international-scale event. To pass the qualifying round, it was necessary to present on paper an original vision of an opera production from the world classical repertoire. My choice fell on Puccini’s masterpiece Turandot, since the main character of the story, Calaf, is a representative of the Nogai dynasty, and the Nogais are an ethnic group of Kazakhstan. I should note that I have already taken part in the Camerata Nuova competition in Germany, where I was also the first Kazakhstani in history to enter the final nine out of more than two hundred applicants. Certainly, such events are a great incentive and a good start for young stage directors, they give the participants an opportunity to express themselves, get a theatrical engagement. Thanks to “Nano-Opera”, many of my classmates from GITIS are actively involved in directing work,” Yerenbak Toikenov said.
A distinctive feature of “Nano-Opera” is the media jury, which presents its own awards. It consists of leading music critics, managers and key employees of popular media: “Vechernyaya Moskva”, “Kommersant”, “Muzykalnaya Zhizn”, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”, “Dni.ru”, “Revizor.ru”, “Moskovsky Komsomolets”, “Rossiya-K” TV channel, “Igrayem Snachala”, “Radio Rossii”, radio “Orfei”.
The participants of the competition work with the soloists of the “Helikon-Opera” on the production of an aria in the first round and a duet in the second, with opera soloists and choir in the production of a mass scene in the third round. The staging process will take place in the presence of the audience. In addition, it will be broadcast on the “Rossiya-K” TV channel and viewers will also be able to watch the live creative work happen live. At the final Gala Concert, accompanied by the theatre’s orchestra, the winners will present their works from among those shown in the second and third rounds, at the jury’s choice.
“The stage director of musical theatre is a very rare profession, which can only be studied at international universities. I myself graduated from GITIS (now the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts) in 2014. When working on a production, first and foremost, we rely on musical dramaturgy, that is, we analyze the musical score, so we need to have a musical education,” the stage director shared.
In addition, the participants of the competition need to show their potential, understanding of the staging canons, and the ability to put their ideas into practice.
“I think that the first round is the most difficult, because it is much more difficult to stage a scene with just one person. When two or three people are involved in the plot, it is much easier to create the mise-en-scene. Here it is easier not only for the director, but the soloists themselves to work as well. On the example of one aria, the jury members should see that you are not only capable of staging this aria, but that you have a vision for the entire production,” Yerenbak Toikenov concluded.
To support our compatriot, the audience will have an opportunity to cast their vote live during the broadcast of the competition on the “Rossiya-K” TV channel. The broadcast program can be found on the TV channel’s website.
