The opera “Shasenem and Garyp,” performed on the stage of the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater, confirmed its status as legendary: it was brilliantly performed by all participants of the vocal and musical production.
But the legendary status is only one side of the coin. Let us recall the exceptional history connected with this opera. On November 6, 1941, the opera “Shasenem and Garyp” opened the new Theater of Opera and Ballet. This event represented not only a cultural achievement but also a political one. The enemy had invaded the territory of the Soviet Union, yet in one of its republics, a theater opened where the arias of an ancient destan resounded from the stage.
Moreover, the work on creating the opera “Shasenem and Garyp” laid the foundation for the creative collaboration of two outstanding composers – Danatar Ovezov and Adrian Shaposhnikov. One was a master of folk vocal art, the other of academic composition. The duet of these two talents produced a magnificent result.
The State Symphony Orchestra of Turkmenistan, conducted by the Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Resul Gylyjov, performed the prelude to the opera, and the curtain revealed the stage in a madrasa where Shasenem and Garyp studied alongside other students. According to the libretto by Garaja Burunov, there was an agreement between the shah and the vizier to marry their children if they were born. Knowing this, the boy and girl fell in love from childhood. But many years passed, the vizier died, his family became poor, and Shasenem’s father no longer wished to fulfill the agreement.
The dramatic story of the two lovers ended happily. The beauty of the performers’ vocals exceeded the audience’s expectations. The best voices were involved. Ayna Seyitgulyeva, the Honored Artist of Turkmenistan, who played the role of Shasenem, enchanted the listeners with her voice. Matching her, the role of Garyp was performed by Atajan Berdiyev, the People’s Artist of Turkmenistan. Several times during the opera, the audience applauded the singer for skillfully executed melismas.
The role of Esber Hoja was performed by Atageldi Garyagdyev, the People’s Artist of Turkmenistan, whose golden baritone is well-known throughout the country. For the role of the padishah, the artist Didar Sarykov from the Nurmukhammet Andalib Dashoguz State Music and Drama Theater was specially invited; his unusually large stature made him stand out above all the opera participants.
The opera made a huge impression on the audience. As a sign of gratitude, numerous bouquets of flowers were presented to the creators from the hall. An incredible thing happened: the vocalists began passing the flowers they received to the musicians of the symphony orchestra, thus emphasizing the decisive importance of music in the opera. The audience applauded this thoughtful gesture of the singers in unison.
Backstage, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues all rushed to congratulate the director Aynazar Batyrov, Honored Artist of Turkmenistan, on this extraordinary victory. Struggling through the crowd of admirers, I managed to ask a truly happy Aynazar a question:
– Is this your favorite opera?
Aynazar nodded and added: “It is my first.”
– And how many operas have you directed?
– Since 2008 – operas for Turkmenistan Culture Day.
This has become a good tradition of the Magtymguly National Music and Drama Theater – to present an opera production to the people of Turkmenistan on Culture Day. And the way Ashgabat residents and guests of the capital relate to this art form is eloquently demonstrated by the fact that there was not a single free seat in the hall.
