Promo video for the upcoming premiere of Bizet’s Carmen in Abay State Opera House in Almaty and featuring artists and musicians of the theater has been presented to the public.
Promo video for the upcoming premiere of Bizet’s Carmen in Abay State Opera House in Almaty and featuring artists and musicians of the theater has been presented to the public.
But the cast and crew were joined by an unlikely ensemble – "KazakhSTUNT" motorcycle stunt group, Tengrinews reports.
Director Lyailim Imangazina has moved the plot of the story into modern times. In the original story, Carmen falls in love with a toreador. In this version, Carmen falls in love with a biker.
This is the reason for inviting bikers to participate in the promo. The lead female role is performed by Oksana Davydenko, while the biker is played by stuntman Vyacheslav Khloptsev.
In the actual opera, lead male role of Don Jose will be performed by Mexican tenor Joel Montero.
Shooting of the video took place in front of the Theater. Carmen was accompanied by the orchestra and choir of Abay Theater, all the while motorcycle stunts were performed around her. The shooting attracted not only a large number of bikers but also casual viewers.
The premiere of the opera will be held on 16 and 17 May with the financial participation of KazKommertsBank. Famous Russian painter Vyacheslav Okunev was invited to work on the new production as well.
Conductors of the orchestra are Alan Buribayev and Yerbolat Akhmedyarov, director of the choir is Aliya Temirbekova.
By Dinara Urazova