In celebration of Kazakhstan’s Independence Day, on December 15 and 16 at 8:30 PM, the opera «Khan Sultan. The Golden Horde» will be performed for Turkish audiences at Istanbul’s iconic Atatürk Cultural Center. The touring cast includes 196 artists, marking another significant step in strengthening cultural ties between Turkey and Kazakhstan.
The opera «Khan Sultan. The Golden Horde» was first staged on November 29–30 and December 1, 2024, to honor the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Jochi Ulus by Jochi Khan, the founder of the Golden Horde. The two-act historical drama was composed by Khamit Shangaliyev, with a libretto written by Kazakhstan’s honored artist and Presidential scholarship laureate Maraltai Ybyraev, based on a play by the talented young playwright Almas Nusip.
The central figure of the opera, Khan Sultan, was the third wife of Jochi Khan and the mother of Berke Khan, one of the great rulers of the Golden Horde. She was also the eldest daughter of Khwarezm Shah Ala ad-Din Muhammad II and the sister of the legendary Jalal ad-Din. Though historical records about Khan Sultan are sparse, her extraordinary life and contributions make her a valuable symbol of wisdom, resilience, and political acumen.
The opera begins with Genghis Khan’s conquest of the Khwarezmian Empire—a cultural and political hub of the Muslim and Turkic worlds—and concludes with the early formation of the Golden Horde. Khan Sultan’s intelligence and diplomatic skill elevated both herself and her sons to prominent roles within the Golden Horde’s leadership.
This production, debuting on the Turkish stage, aims to introduce the shared rich history and invaluable cultural heritage of Turkic nations to the world.
The director, Davide Livermore (Italy), is an Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy, known for collaborations with renowned artists such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, and for productions at iconic theaters like La Scala (Milan) and Teatro Regio (Turin).
The project was guided by historical consultants Professor Nurlan Atygaev, Ilnur Mirgaliyev, and Ilyas Kemaloglu, leading experts on the history of the Golden Horde. Costume design was led by Ainur Yerimbetova, with 173 stage costumes created for the production. Around 300 performers, including soloists, an orchestra, a choir, and ballet dancers, are involved in this large-scale production.
Ainur Kopbasarova, the director of the Abai Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre and initiator of the project, stated:
«This opera highlights the role of Great Steppe women like Khan Sultan in history—their wisdom, courage, and diplomatic prowess. It is a step towards promoting the cultural heritage of the Turkic world to a global audience.»
Thus, the image of Khan Sultan, a key figure in the political history of the Golden Horde, is now presented to the world stage.