This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On a cool Tuesday night in November 2019, a state theatre in Ashgabat was filled with spectators eager to witness the staging of Ruggero Leoncavallo's 19th-century opera 'Pagliacci' as part of an international drama festival.
As the curtains closed, older spectators expressed nostalgia for the long-taboo art form, while younger viewers praised the performance.
For Mekan Byashimov, a 54-year-old schoolteacher, the opera's return marked a significant step towards restoring a rich cultural heritage.
'We used to have good premieres. I went regularly. If we want to call ourselves a cultured nation, we need to restore opera and ballet,' Byashimov told AFP on the night of the performance.
For Aina Shiryayeva, a 20-year-old student, the experience was a delightful introduction to the world of opera.
'The music and the artists! Everything was so wonderful. I am delighted. I have seen the opera!' she exclaimed.
The performance marked a significant shift in Turkmenistan's cultural landscape, as the country's eccentric first leader, Sapurmurat Niyazov, banned opera and foreign ballet in 2001 in a bid to protect Turkmen culture.
The ban continued under Niyazov's successor, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who came to power in 2006.
However, with the staging of 'Pagliacci', the country took its first steps towards reviving its operatic tradition.
According to Daniele de Plano, the director of the joint Turkmen-Italian performance, the opera was staged as part of a 'cultural exchange programme' between Italy and Turkmenistan.
'I really hope this is the beginning of a new path of ties becoming closer between Turkmenistan and opera, particularly Italian opera,' de Plano said.
