Astana Opera soloists awarded at Opera Crown international competition in Tbilisi
Astana Opera’s young soloists became the awardees of a prestigious vocal competition in Georgia, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Dinmukhamed Koshkinbayev took third place in the Opera Crown Tbilisi International Vocal Competition, and was awarded received a special prize – performing at a concert in Budapest and joining production at the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre. Another special prize was awarded to Alikhan Zeinolla.
Both singers are the graduates of the ASTANA OPERA International Opera Academy and prize-winners of one of the main Kazakh vocal competitions – Bibigul Tulegenova Competition. Dinmukhamed Koshkinbayev was also named a prizewinner at the legendary Éva Marton International Singing Competition in Budapest. The soloist of the capital’s opera house successfully participates in the Big Opera television project on the Kultura TV channel.
I learned about the Opera Crown competition a month ago, sent an application, and recorded a video of the performance. My teacher Anatoli Goussev helped me in selecting the repertoire. The competition consisted of three rounds. In the first round I performed Rodrigo’s aria from Verdi’s Don Carlos and Onegin’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin. For the second round I prepared Enrico Ashton’s aria Cruda funesta smania... from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Aleko’s cavatina from the opera of the same name by Rachmaninoff, says Dinmukhamed Koshkinbayev.
In the finale, the vocalist performed Gérard’s aria Nemico della Patria from Giordano’s Andrea Chénier and Ibn-Hakia’s aria from Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, winning a prize in the competition.
According to Dinmukhamed Koshkinbaev, his fellow competitors are great professionals who have demonstrated a high level of vocal skill.
I am happy to be a laureate of this prestigious competition. Participation in such competitions is always a useful experience that inspires to new achievements and stimulates professional improvement. I would like to especially thank our concertmaster Zara Zhazykbayeva, who accompanied us during the competition, adds the soloist.
Another prizewinner is Alikhan Zeinolla, soloist of the capital’s opera house and participant of the Rossini Opera Festival held in Italy's Pesaro. This is one of the most authoritative world festivals, where famous singers of our time consider it an honor to perform.
According to the vocalist, the Opera Crown competition period in Georgia was not easy, but it left only good impressions.
43 young singers from 20 countries, such as Georgia, South Korea, Moldova, Germany, the USA, Iran, and others, were selected to participate in the competition. In the first two rounds we performed two arias to the piano accompaniment. In the finale, the participants were accompanied by the Tbilisi Theatre Orchestra. Behind every success of a soloist is the colossal work of the accompanist, and in two rounds of the competition I was supported by the Astana Opera’s accompanist, Zaru Zhazykbayeva. I would like to express special gratitude to my vocal technique teachers – Kanat Omarbayev and Anatoli Goussev, who work with me, helping me prepare for international competitions, Alikhan Zeinolla says.
The special prize awarded to Alikhan Zeinolla involves the performance of the role of Count Almaviva in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Zacharia Paliashvili Tbilisi State Opera and Ballet Theatre. This is a great achievement for the young artist.
Georgia is famous for its high level of vocal art. Therefore, the requirements for the contestants were very strict. The 3rd Opera Crown International Competition, held in the Georgian capital, brought together more than 40 vocalists from all over the world. The jury included well-known theatrical figures, including the Director of Casting of London’s Royal Opera House Peter Mario Katona, Director of Artistic Planning of the Washington National Opera Samuel Gelber, Casting Director of the Wiener Staatsoper Robert Körner and others. The main goal of the competition is to facilitate the promotion of young talented singers, providing an opportunity to perform in front of leading opera professionals – artistic directors and casting directors of the best opera houses in the world.
