Traditions of Uzbek Musical Theatre

Abstract

This research investigates the development of Uzbek musical theatre traditions and their dissemination in the contemporary media sphere with a focus on their historical background, artistic variations and modern problems. Over the last millennium, forms of classical national musical drama have all but disappeared in recent decades in favor of a more superficial presentation of the genre in which playwrights and composers do not collaborate as creatively interdependently, as they used to. This study reveals a major gap in knowledge in current practice — a weakening of the old creative synthesis that once linked together direction, music and acting. This study uses a qualitative analytical technique, both archival research and analysis of major theatrical works and contributions of major directors, such as Rustam Bobokhonov, Rustam Madiyev, and Bahodir Nazarov, to review important stages in development. Results show that although the core of musical theatre is still solid, revival efforts depend on the tuning of classical and modern melody. The results show the importance of maintaining historical accuracy while connecting the past to modernity so that the audience retains interest and its culture remains persistent. DP abstract: The study concludes that a prospective Uzbek musical theatre form harmoniously combined with national traditions and modern European musical genres would allow for finding a way to the renewal of a national musical theatre form, which raises the voice of Uzbek music not only on national but also on international musical stages. Such a synthesis would maintain the genre's cultural identity yet inspire forward-thinking, experimental creation among future generations of creators.