A month before his final exam Sergei Rachmaninoff, the then Moscow Conservatory student, had been commissioned to create an opera (the libretto by V.I.Nemirovich-Danchenko based on A.
S.Pushkin’s poem “The Gypsies”) as his graduation piece.It took the 19-year-old just seventeen days to compose it.A month before his final exam Guvanch Saparaliev, a student at the Turkmen National Music Conservatory, had been asked to stage a production of the opera Aleko for his graduation project.
It has just been premiered at the Music Conservatory’s Big Hall.The production featured the Conservatory’s Symphonic Orchestra led by People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Ashir Khojatov, a chamber choir (Choirmaster - Merited Art Worker Elena Moskvicheva), and Myahri Orazova as a concertmaster.
Fifth-year student Guvanch Saparaliev conducted the production.Although there are no traditional impressive sets and costumes, the opera transports the audience to a boisterous band of Gypsies who encamp on the bank of a river.
Among the Gypsies is Aleko, who has abandoned civilization for the gypsy life and has traveled with the band for 2 years.Aleko and young Zemfira were in love with each other, but the Gypsy girl does not love him anymore.
Zemfira’s father recollects that Mariula remained faithful to him for a year only and then deserted him for another man, leaving behind their little daughter.Aleko cannot understand why Zemfira’s father took no revenge on her mother.
But the wise Gypsy tries to explain to him that every person has the freedom to make choices.Aleko does not heed the advice; he murders Zemfira and her lover in a fit of jealousy.
The girl’s father demands that Aleko leave the band.He is desperately lonely again.Amangeldy Amanov (baritone) sang the title role, free-spirited and fiercely independent Zemfira was sung by Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Bibijemal Amanova (soprano).
Begench Gaipov (bass), fifth-year student Kakajan Amansahetov (tenor) and Jennet Shammedova (contralto) magnificently performed the supporting roles, having greatly enhanced the vocal beauty of the production with their powerful singing voices.
Sergei Rachmaninoff’s music mesmerizes with its deep expressiveness.As the opera unfolds, it first keeps the listeners on the edge of their seats and then leaves them immersed in an atmosphere of serene lyricism, joy and life in all its fullness.
After the dramatic climax, the music conveys the feeling of terrible loneliness.The opera production marks a great occasion for the Conservatory.Not only did its students and teachers come to listen to the opera, but also actors from the capital’s theaters.
Bouquets of flowers and rapturous applause from the audience were the expression of admiration for the singers and, first of all, Guvanch Saparaliev, the conductor, whose graduation project received high praise.