THEATER IS LIFE …

Theater is people, destinies, ups and downs, the search for new forms.
The history of the theater is traditions, and traditions are what we are rich in today.

The State Theater of Musical Comedy (Operetta) of Uzbekistan began its life in August 1972, when it was created by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The People’s Artist of Uzbekistan, Professor A.I. Ginzburg, who for many years headed the glorified troupe of the National Academic Theater of Uzbekistan, is appointed artistic director, and A.I. becomes the director. Vodchenko. They laid down all the concerns for the organization of a new theater group, which did not yet have its own building.

The backbone of the creative troupe consisted of graduates of the Gnessin Moscow Music School (course of Professor A. Ginzburg) and creative universities of Uzbekistan.

Young artists joined the group of experienced masters: conductor A. Serebryanik, S. Shadmanov, B. Rasulov, directors G. Spector, L. Vilkovich, choreographers I. Timme, A. Liang, F. Isaeva, artists V. Factorovich, A. Batykov, T. Mirov, artists L. Bessarabova, A. Karimov, I. Shalamaev, N. Dimova, B. Balabanov, N. Kaprielova, E. Kaprielov, Yu. Letov, V. Mitrofanova, V. Mishin, Z. Nightingale, F. Oleneva, N. Shatsky, N. Shibaeva, G. Shumsky, A. Shulga, ballet dancers A. Abdurakhmanov, F. Ismayev, R. Bektemirova and others. Many of them in the course of their creative work were awarded the honorary titles “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan”, “People’s Artist of Uzbekistan”, “Honored Worker of Culture of Uzbekistan”, “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan”,

On August 4, 1973, on the stage of the Tashkent State Musical Theater named after Mukimi with the operetta “The Merry War” by I. Strauss staged by A. Ginzburg, the theater celebrated its Birthday by opening the first theatrical season.

Young artists joined the group of experienced masters: conductor A. Serebryanik, S. Shadmanov, B. Rasulov, directors G. Spector, L. Vilkovich, choreographers I. Timme, A. Liang, F. Isaeva, artists V. Factorovich, A. Batykov, T. Mirov, artists L. Bessarabova, A. Karimov, I. Shalamaev, N. Dimova, B. Balabanov, N. Kaprielova, E. Kaprielov, Yu. Letov, V. Mitrofanova, V. Mishin, Z. Nightingale, F. Oleneva, N. Shatsky, N. Shibaeva, G. Shumsky, A. Shulga, ballet dancers A. Abdurakhmanov, F. Ismayev, R. Bektemirova and others. Many of them in the course of their creative work were awarded the honorary titles “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan”, “People’s Artist of Uzbekistan”, “Honored Worker of Culture of Uzbekistan”, “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan”,

“The solemn and ultimately triumphal premiere of the“ Merry War ”announced with indisputable conviction that the Tashkent Operetta Theater was not only born, but also managed to conquer the hearts of its viewers”, “We witnessed a miracle. The decorations made by the artist G. Brim in a bright festive tonality and correspond to our mood for a miracle that from these first seconds penetrate with firm confidence – the theater will win the hearts of even the most inveterate skeptics. In the play a lot of fiction, rich imagination, brightly built mise en scenes ”. So exactly forty years ago, the press of the capital of Uzbekistan responded to the birth of a new creative team.

The year 1974 brought great joy to the collective – the theater received its building. Incendiary, festive “Violet of Montmartre” I. Kalman Theater met its first audience.

In 1981, the theater was headed by the chief director Honored Art Worker of Russia K. Vasilyev, who is the author of plays and first productions, widely played in the CIS countries, musical comedies: “Babi rebellion” (based on Don Stories by M. Sholokhov), “Sweet Berry ”(based on the works of V. Shukshin). Music to these performances was written by the famous composer E. Ptichkin. K. Vasiliev began his creative activity in Uzbekistan with the production of the first Uzbek operetta, written in collaboration with composer E. Salikhov “Khoja Nasreddin”, which later became the hallmark of the theater. The press wrote: “The Tashkent Operetta Theater has the honor of creating the first Uzbek operetta. Truly sunny music, combining the beauty of Uzbek melodies and modern rhythms, created by E. Salikhov, served as the basis for a truly folk performance ”.

The repertoire policy of the theater since its foundation is connected with four main areas.

The first is a classic of the genre, works belonging to the Golden Fund of the world musical theater. The performances of the classical heritage always, at all times, enjoy great spectator success, give a huge scope for the creativity of the actors. There is always a special atmosphere of spirituality in the hall, music gives aesthetic joy. Is it possible to imagine a poster of our theater without “Gypsy Premiere”, “Gollandochka”, “Bayadera”, “Circus Princesses”, “Silva”, “Maritsa” (I. Kalman); “Bat”, “Gypsy Baron” (I. Strauss); “Merry Widow”, and “Count of Luxembourg” (F. Legar), “Beautiful Helena” (J.Offenbach), the musical “My Fair Lady” (F. Lowe), “Arshin Mal Alan” (U Hajibeyov). They expanded the creative range of actors, helped their growth, enriched the repertoire of the theater. These productions are among the best performances that have won considerable sympathy from the audience and excellent reviews from critics.

The second direction is the original works of Uzbek authors. Musical comedies “Khoja Nasreddin” (composer E. Salikhov), “Baby” (composer A. Ergashev), “Aunt, I’m getting married!” (Composer A. Ikramov, play V. Bagramov), “Heart on palm ”- a performance dedicated to the memory of the national artist of Uzbekistan B. Zakirova,“ Once in New York ”(composer I. Berlin),“ Twenty years old.uz ”(U Salikhov),“ Echo of Love ”(composer S. Absalyamov, play B Vavilova), “Sorry, dear …” (composer D. Zakirova, play by A. Rakhmatov).

The third direction is the best works of modern operetta of the Commonwealth countries (CIS). Among them are the “Sevastopol waltz” by D. Listov, “The circus lights the lights” by Y. Milutin, “The love vertezh” by V. Ilyin and V. Lukashov, “The stolen bride” by G. Kancheli, “The wedding in Malinovka” by B. Alexadrov and others .

The fourth direction – special attention is paid to the children’s repertoire. Our theater is the only one in the Central Asian region that specializes in this genre and offers children musical fairy tales in Russian and Uzbek. Today the theater works fruitfully with composers such as A. Ikramov, U Salikhov, V. Saparov, D. Zakirova, playwrights: A. Rakhmatov, V. Vavilova. As a result of the collaboration of the group with these authors, the repertoire of the theater has been replenished with musical performances for children. Such performances as “The Tale of the Greedy Hasan” (D. Vildanov), “The Common Pea” (A. Kanaki), “The Magic Persimmon” (U Salikhov), “The Fairy Gifts Aigul”, “The Marvelous Doira” “(E. Salikhova)” Mamat Gonchar “(A. Ikramov),” Oltin Kush “(U Salikhov),” Enchanted Crystal “(Usalihov),” Naughty Gin “(Usalihov),” Tubeteyka 3D “(V. Bagramov ), “The Bremen Town Musicians” (G. Gladkov) “Magic Sulfur” (A. Ikramov) and many others.

The geography of the theater tours is wide. Spectators from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the Baltic countries are familiar with the creative work of artists of the Tashkent operetta.

The troupe of our theater has become younger in recent years, which, in turn, implies the attraction of composers and playwrights to the theater, who have a delicate understanding of the tastes of modern youth who create works that are close to them. These are the performances: “Aunt, I’m getting married!” (Composer A. Ikramov, playwright and director V. Bagramov), “Cylinder” (U Salikhov, B. Khamidov), “Legendary Fool” (E. Komarova, B. Khamidov ), “Dear Pamela” (U Salikhov, B. Khamidov), “Hello, I am your aunt” (U Salikhov, G. Najidova). Today’s day is brightly shown on the stage and the humor is subtly conveyed, smoothly turning into the grotesque, without which the genre of musical comedy cannot exist.

In 2008, Sergey Kaprielov was appointed artistic director and chief director. This is a multifaceted, highly qualified director and talented leader who brought a new genre direction to the repertoire of the theater – the musical. During his work in the theater, he staged and successfully performed such performances as “Silva” by I. Kalman (capitally restored), “The Wedding of Krechin Sky” by A. Kolker, “Arshin Mal Alan” by U. Hajibeyov, “And we are in the yard” , “A movie is being filmed or in our yard – 2”, “Echo of love” by V. Vavilov, “Twenty-year-old.uz” by U. Salikhov, “Love in blues style” by V. Saparov.

In 2008 and 2012, a targeted recruitment of students for the replenishment of the theater troupe by young talented specialists, course head S. Kaprielov was held at the State Institute of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan. Diploma performances of “Arshin Mal Alan” At Hajibeyov and the musical “Notre Dame de Paris” R. Kochchante, staged with the students of the course, received positive feedback from theater critics, spectators and the media.

In the years of independence, Uzbekistan truly created all the conditions for free creativity and development for all areas of art and culture. The leadership of the country pays special attention to spiritually enlightening work, as well as to strengthening the material and technical base of theaters, providing them with modern theater equipment and technical equipment that meets all advanced international standards. From us – theatrical figures – we need a creative and modern creative approach to our activities.

To speak from the stage with humor about serious moral problems, to bring joy, smile, good mood – in this we see our duty, in this is our creative and human happiness, in this is our life!

The creative goals of our theater are, first of all, the full embodiment of the tasks that were set by the leadership of our State to the theaters in the light of the popularization of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Uzbek national entertainment art.