Honoured artist of Kazakhstan, laureate of State prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maira Mukhamedkyzy performed in the Big hall of “Astana Opera” on 8 September. The bright musical evening is dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Astana and coincided with the opening of the sixth theatre season.

At the press conference organized for journalists M. Mukhamedkyzy told to correspondent of assembly.kz a lot of interesting things from her personal life and music. She admitted that she will celebrate the 30th anniversary of work soon. It is important to note that 25 years ago the honored artist returned to her historical Homeland — Kazakhstan.

Not everyone knows that the Opera Diva was born and grew up in China. Her grandfathers in those distant 30s of the last century emigrated to the Eastern neighbours fleeing from the tyranny of Soviet power of that time. Her parents (her father is a well-known composer and collector of Kazakh folk songs in China, her mother is a famous singer, people's artist of China) taught her to play the piano and sing, sent her to a local music school. At one time, her father strongly dreamed that her daughter became an Opera singer and returned to her historical homeland. Father's dreams became prophetic and many years later Maira returned to Kazakhstan and day after day she conquers all the world’s theatre stages.

After studying at Central University of people of China and Beijing Conservatory, Maira Mukhamedkyzy took part in Tchaikovsky’s competition in 1994. These years were a turning point in her life. She literally “escapes” to Kazakhstan. But only two years after this incident, she was able to obtain citizenship of Kazakhstan only thanks to a meeting with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and Chairman of China Jiang Jiemin. A little later, she helped the rest of the family to return to Motherland.

The most interesting thing is that Maira Mukhamedkyzy was fluent in Chinese and Kazakh languages, but did not know a word in Russian, French and Italian, despite the fact that the main operas from the world classics are performed in these languages.

In 1996, Maira became a soloist of Abay Almaty Opera and ballet theatre and after almost 20 years she became a leading soloist of Astana Opera. In 1997, Maira Mukhamedkyzy breaks forward and wins the Grand Prix of competition and 10 000 US dollars in Portugal at the international competition of opera singers among 66 performers from 17 countries of the world. After such a Grand victory, city akimat of Almaty decides to allocate a two-room apartment to her.

But her cherished dream was to become a famous opera singer and perform at Moscow international Tchaikovsky competition. The greatest dream came true. In 1998, she acts as the first winner from Kazakhstan and takes the 3rd prize-winning place.

In the Republic, her skill and talent is finally recognized and she was awarded the title of honored artist of Kazakhstan. Later she received a five-room apartment instead the former one.

Four years later, Maira receives a two-year contract with Paris “Grand Opera”. Thus, she became the first Kazakh woman who was awarded such a high honour. The singer takes the pseudonym Maira Kerey for the convenience of western admirers of her talent. And at the same time she begins to learn French, then Italian, English and Russian languages.

The role of Musetta in Giacomo Puccini’s opera “La Boheme” takes a special place in her work. She made her debut in Paris with this opera. She calls it role No. 1.

Maira Mukhamedkyzy fondly recalls her past life: “I was born and lived for a long time in China among representatives of 56 ethnic groups. We live in friendship. It is in a huge country, where 1.5 billion people live. When I came to Kazakhstan and learned that representatives of more than 130 nationalities and ethnic groups live here in peace and harmony, I was sincerely surprised. The population is small and but so diversive.

In my songs I constantly sing the friendship of people. After all, no matter how we all draw the boundaries of our states, in the end, all people cannot live without communication, cultural ties are always needed. It is a close relationship that is the guarantor of strong friendly relations between states and leaders in particular. Our Head of state is respected by the whole world. Our country is one of the few ones which has a civil institution – Assembly of people of Kazakhstan. Only our President was able to put the leaders of many warring and conflicting parties at the big negotiating table. Not many leaders of the world can do this, especially in such turbulent times. This is a great achievement on the way to establishing world order on our planet”.

“I never share anyone on racial, national and religious grounds, nor does music. The language of music is clear and accessible to all equally, music has no boundaries in anything, music as a universal language of all mankind. It only unites, so I consider myself a citizen of the world. After all, my language is the language of my song, music is clear to each of the six billion people”, — concluded our famous singer in an interview with our correspondent.

Дата события ассамблеи: 10.09.2018

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