Birzhan and Sara

2016-10-26T09:59:01Z

Lourdes: clean up and fixes

'''''Birzhan and Sara''''' (<span class="lang-ru" lang="ru">Биржан и Сара</span>) is an [[opera]] of 2 acts and 4 scenes made by the [[Kazakhs|Kazakh]] composer Mukan Tulebaev [[:ru:Тулебаев, Мукан Тулебаевич|(Russian)]] upon a libretto of Khazhim Djumaliev<ref name="BaO">[https://www.balletandopera.com/opera/Birzhan_and_Sara/info/sid=GLE_1&play_date_from=01-Mar-2014&play_date_to=31-Mar-2014&playbills=39814 ''Marynsky'' theater presents the opera ''Birzhan and Sara''], ''Ballet and Opera'', March 10, 2014.</ref> in [[Kazakh language]],<ref name="Belcanto">[http://www.belcanto.ru/opera_birzhan.html Tulebaev opera "Birzhan and Sara"], ''Belcanto''. (Russian)</ref> inspired of the [[aitys]] between Birzhan and Sara [[:ru:Айтыс Биржана и Сары|(Russian)]].

== History and shows ==
The opera premiered in [[Almaty]] on November 7, 1946 and was performed in [[Moscow]] on December 6, 1958.<ref name="Belcanto"/>

The libretto has been adaptated in [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and the opera was played in [[Samsun]] in 2013,<ref>[http://www.turksoy.org/en/news/2013/12/17/tolebayevs_opera_birjan_and_sarah_performed_once_again_in_samsun Tulebayev's Opera Birjan and Sarah], ''Turksoy'', December 17, 2013.</ref> and in [[Istanbul]], [[Bursa]], [[Eskişehir]] and [[Ankara]] in 2014.<ref name="Turksoy">[http://www.turksoy.org/en/news/2014/06/16/great_success_for_m_tulebayevs_birjan_and_sarah_in_istanbul Great Success for M. Tulebayev's Birjan and Sarah], ''Turksoy'', June 16, 2014.</ref>

Part of [[Astana Opera]]'s repertoire,<ref>[http://astanaopera.kz/category/repertuar/?lang=en Repertoire] of [[Astana Opera]]</ref> it is played on a regular basis in [[Astana]].

== Distribution ==
* Birzhan, poet and popular singer - tenor,
* Birzhan's mother - mezzo-soprano,
* Birzhan's father - baritone,
* Estay, friend of Birzhan - tenor,
* Sara, popular singer - soprano,
* Zhienkul, [[bey]] - bariton,
* Zhanbota, local chief - baritone,
* Altynay, Zhambota's daughter - soprano,
* Serik, Zhanbota's bodyguard - tenor.<ref name="BaO"/><ref name="Belcanto"/>

== Synopsis ==
Different variants of the story exist, as the libretto has been adaptated several times, being translated into [[Turkish language|Turkish]],<ref name="Turksoy"/> or to create a different staging.<ref name="AO">[http://astanaopera.kz/afisha/birzhan-sara/?lang=en « BIRZHAN – SARA »], summary for the play on December 9 of 2015 at [[Astana Opera]].</ref>

===Act One===
* Scene One
During a fair Birzhan and Sara, both popular singers, sing a lyric duet in the main square of the Kazakh village of Kuyandy; inhabitants gather around them to listen. Altynay, in love with Birzhan, questions Estay to know whether her feelings are shared, and manages to find out that Birzhan is in love with Sara. Local chief Zhanbota, Altynay's father, comes to the market place with his brother Zhienkul and his guards. Zhienkul wants Sara to marry him and become his fourth wife. Sara refuses, and Birjan sings a song to make fun of Zhanbota and Zhienkul. Gards grasp him. As the village people show their disapproval, Zhanbota and his gards leave. People rejoice that Sara and Bizhan are safe<ref name="BaO"/><ref name="Belcanto"/>
* Scene two
Birzhan is near a lake and sings his love to Sara, playing music with his [[dombra]]. Village people, includin Birzhan's parents, join him and warn him to distrust Zhanbota. Birzhan is not afraid, and sings the freedom of people, evoking the famous poet [[Abai Qunanbaiuli|Abai]]. Altynay came to see Birzhan, but Estay prevents her to meet him. Birzhan and Sara swear each other faithfulness and eternal love. Zhanbota comes and abducts Sara to bring her to Zhienkula.<ref name="BaO"/><ref name="Belcanto"/>

===Act two===
* Scene one
Preparation of the wedding of Sara and Zhienkul. Sara says him that she will never accept to be his wife. Birzhan comes. Zhienkul is angry and calls his gards. Birzhan is arrested<ref name="Turksoy"/>
* Scene two
Serik falls asleep while guarding Birzhan's cell. Sara comes, manages to take the keys of the cell from him, and joins her lover. Altynay sees everything and warns Zhienkul. The bey intervenes, and orders an immediate trial for Sara, which takes place immediately, and Sara is sentenced to death. But Zhienkul cannot appreciate the execution of the sentence, as a crowd of village people, led by Estay, frees Birzhan and Sara. Desesperated, Altynay comes close to Sara and stabs her. Sara dies. Heartbroken, Birzhan laies on his beloved for the last time.<ref name="BaO"/><ref name="Belcanto"/>

==== Variant ====
Under different variants, Birzhan might die instead of Sara.<ref name="Turksoy"/>

== External links ==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR0V80FzAB0 Extract of the opera]

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Kazakhstan|Opera}}

[[Category:Kazakhstani music]]
[[Category:20th-century operas]]
[[Category:Kazakh-language operas]]

Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Birzhan and Sara