Birzhan and Sara

Birzhan and Sara (Биржан и Сара) is an opera of 2 acts and 4 scenes made by the Kazakh composer Mukan Tulebaev upon a libretto of Khazhim Djumaliev in Kazakh language, inspired of the aitys between Birzhan and Sara .

The opera premiered in Almaty on November 7, 1946 and was performed in Moscow on December 6, 1958.

The libretto has been adaptated in Turkish, and the opera was played in Samsun in 2013, and in Istanbul, Bursa, Eskişehir and Ankara in 2014.

Part of Astana Opera's repertoire, it is played on a regular basis in Astana.

Different variants of the story exist, as the libretto has been adaptated several times, being translated into Turkish, or to create a different staging.

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

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. 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.

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Wikipedia