The Ballet 'Cholpon' Ten Years Later
Almost ten years later, in 1953, 'Cholpon' was revived in a new edition. The plot changed this time as follows. The poor man Nurdin kills a wild goat in the khan's domain and falls into the hands of his servants.
Along with him, his beloved Cholpon and her brother Sapar are captured. As punishment, the khan decides to exile them. But Nurdin attracts the attention of the sorceress Aydai, whom the khan intends to marry to his son. With the help of the sorceress Jarkyn (performed by Sainat Jokobaeva and G. Melentyeva), she lures Nurdin to her palace, and he becomes her captive. After some time, Cholpon, along with hunters, sets out to search for and rescue Nurdin. They have to overcome various obstacles, but selfless love frees Nurdin from Aydai's magical charms. The evil sorceress perishes, and the entire people celebrate their liberation.
Here, the conflict becomes sharper, the actions more motivated, and the pace more dynamic. The national color appeared more vividly in the second edition in the external setting, and the dances highlighted playful domestic elements.
The technique of the performers has also grown, showcasing their dance mastery. This primarily applied to the lead role performer, artist Ch. Jamanova. Her Cholpon is emotional and expressive, especially
in conveying the psychological state of the heroine. Despair is replaced by determination, sadness by genuine joy.
The role of Aydai was alternately performed by Bibisara Beyshenalieva and Roza Samgina. Each interpreted the image of the evil sorceress in her own way. B. Beyshenalieva could not overcome the lyrical quality inherent in her creative individuality, and therefore in her interpretation, the image of the treacherous Aydai is somewhat softened. In R. Samgina's portrayal, the sorceress appeared significantly "meaner," as the ballerina sought to reveal the cruel essence of her character through impulsive and authoritative movements.
The audience's attention was also focused on Nurdin—the poor man who fell in love with a simple girl. B. Suslov created a memorable image. However, it should be noted that the artistic completeness of Nurdin's character suffered because, as soon as Nurdin succumbs to the sorceress's charms, his determination is replaced by lethargy and passivity, which do not correspond to the character of the young man.
Looking ahead, it should be said that in the next edition of the ballet 'Cholpon,' choreographer N. Tugelov reveals Nurdin's character differently: he maintains his determination to the end, even when under the power of the magical force that is contrary to his very being. This made the director's concept more vivid: true courage can withstand any forces of evil.
Composer M. Raukhverger did serious work on the new edition of the ballet. The musical interludes became organically woven into the fabric of the action, and the musical characteristics of the heroes were more precisely defined: the light elegance of Cholpon, the lively rhythms of Nurdin, and the dark color of the sorceress Aydai's surroundings. Some lethargy in the music, which conveyed Nurdin's emotional state in the previous edition, after revision sounded with new pathetic rhythms that corresponded to the spirit of the struggle waged by the positive heroes against the spawn of the magical realm.
Content of the First Production of 'Cholpon'