By Zoya Ismatulina
May 16, 2003

What is needed for organizing a real American show in Bishkek? Not much: two energetic American musicians, a student choir of the Kyrgyz National Conservatory, and a big desire to make a good show. The above components produced a nice concert of American music and songs in English, entitled "Broadway in Bishkek."

The local audience gathered at the Bishkek Philharmonia to listen to a compact version of Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. But they were pleasantly surprised by the performance of these two Americans, who proved not only to be full of energy but also full of talent. They were John Ferguson, a pianist and artistic director of the American Voices Foundation, and Ira Spaulding, a baritone singer and member of the American Voices. Under Ferguson's piano accompaniment, Spaulding sang Negro Spirituals and songs of well-known American composers. While listening to George Gershwin's Vodka, the audience was really impressed by Spaulding's acting when he showed how he drank vodka in Kyrgyzstan.

John Ferguson first studied music in his hometown of Houston, Texas and then in Paris and Geneva. His teachers have included Nadia Boulanger and Eugene List. In 1993 John Ferguson founded the American Voices to fulfil the need for quality American cultural programming in the newly independent countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Since then, the focus of the American Voices has expanded to include any country with a scarcity of exposure to American culture. His performing activities include over 100 concerts, broadcasts, and master classes per year all over the world.

Born in New York, Ira Spaulding has conducted various vocal ensembles in America - from church choirs to a jazz vocal ensemble. In 1981 he moved to Europe. In 1982 he was invited by Jessye Norman to sing the baritone role in the Robert Wilson production and recording in Paris of "Great Day in the Morning." His extensive vocal repertoire includes various things - from the Passions of J.S. Bach to opera solos to musicals. Ira Spaulding's collaborations with the American Voices have included extensive touring in Latin America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Recent projects include conducting and solo appearances in Gershwin's Porgy and Bess in Bolivia, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, as well as directing performances of West Side Story in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.

For the performance in Kyrgyzstan, the US Embassy decided to invite not professional actors but students of the Kyrgyz Conservatory, because the characters of the musical were supposed to be 17-20 years old. American diplomats well know the capabilities of local students of music. Recently, the US Embassy presented the Kyrgyz Conservatory an audio system and a collection of musical CDs. Conrad Turner, assistant to the US Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan on education and culture, is a frequent guest at the conservatory. He is a good jazzman and often plays with the students.

The performers were selected through a contest at the National Conservatory. These were students of different departments, post-graduates, and a vocal teacher. The troupe was formed a month before the concert date. The students learned their roles themselves. Then John and Ira arrived in Bishkek and they started joint rehearsals. "We only worked for five hectic days," said Ainur Durusaliyeva, chief of the International Department at the Conservatory. "Rehearsals lasted 5-6 hours a day and then we made two run-throughs."

Not everything was done perfectly with plastic art technique, costumes, and choral singing during this short period of time, but the musical was a success. The soloists performed brilliantly. The audience applauded and cried bravo, especially for 2nd year student Jenish Ysmanov and post-graduate Gulmira Joldosheva.

In the words of Ainur Durusaliyeva, most Kyrgyz singers who sang in English do not speak this language. The performance was especially hard for a local singer who was born in a remote Kyrgyz village where people only speak Kyrgyz. With a little baby to take care of, she learned her role perfectly and did not miss a single rehearsal.

One of the spectators who highly evaluated the performance was the famous musician, Yo-Yo-Ma, and his ensemble, who arrived in Bishkek on the day of the show. They attended the concert and came to congratulate the young Kyrgyz singers on their good result. The students were really happy.

"Want to make anything like this again?" I asked Jenish Ysmanov.

"Of course! It was really great to work with John and Ira. There was an extraordinary enthusiasm and a bright creative aura."