KAMBAR AND NAZYM

Biography

Ballet in 3 acts, 6 scenes.

Composer - Vasily Velikanov. Libretto - Nigmet Baimukhamedov, Pyotr Gradov (Moscow). Choreography and staging - Mikhail Moiseyev; co-director - Kurmanbek Dzhandarbekov; ballet master consultant - Ekaterina Lifanova. Production designer - Anatoly Nenashev. Production conductor - Evgeny Manayev.

The premiere took place on December 3, 1950 at the Abay SAOBT.

Characters and performers: Kambar - Rafkhat Urazbayev, Almas Bekbosynov; Nazim - Rakul Tazhiyeva, Nursulu Tapalova; Mergenbai - Alexander Seleznev, Dmitry Samokhin; Dametken, Nazim's friend - Kamysh Karabalinova, S. Khodzhayeva; Murat, Kambar's friend - Leonid Taganov, Maksut Akzhanov; Kelmambet, matchmaker of Mergenbai - Sergey Ilnitsky; Kambar's father- Mikhail Moiseyev.

Batyr Kambar and beautiful Nazim love each other. However, Nazim's father plans to arrange marriage of his daughter with a rich groom, and one of them is Khan Mergenbai. Kambar tries to kidnap Nazim from the native village. Dametken and Murat help the young people, but only Kambar manages to break away from the pursuers. Nazym's father organizes a bride show, at which the daughter must choose a groom for herself from among the rich and snobby candidates.

Khan Mergenbai with his retinue breaks into the yurt, he brought the tied supporters of Kambar and is going to deal with the defiant Nazim and her father. At this moment, Kambar enters the yurt. A duel of batyrs Kambar and Kelmambet ensues. Kambar wins. Kambar together with Nazim come to his native village. The people joyfully meet the batyr and his bride. The action of the ballet ends with a general dance of victory and happiness.

Revival in a new edition. In 1956 the theater tried to revive the ballet. The renewed performance was presented to the audience in 1959.

The premiere took place on May 17, 1959 at the Abay SAOBT.

Choreography and staging - Dauren Abirov. Designer - Anatoly Nenashev. Production conductor - Evgeny Manayev.

Characters and performers: Kambar - Leonid Taganov; Nazim - Rakul Tazhiyeva; Mergenbai - Alexander Seleznev; Dametken, the friend - Kamysh Karabalinova; Murat, friend of Kambar - Gani Akzhanov.

In the new edition, the performance was shown three times and was removed from the repertoire.

Bibliography

• Сарынова Л.П. Балетное искусство Казахстана. – Научное издание. – Алма-Ата: «Наука» Казахской ССР, 1976 – 176 стр. – С.82-92, 147, 150.
• Либретто оперных и балетных спектаклей композиторов Казахстана Калкаман и Мамыр. Балет в 3-х действиях с прологом – Составитель: Генералова И.Ю – Алматы: компания «Австралийские авиалинии» – 1995 – 126 с. – С.88-89.