’Anna Karenina’ on stage in capital

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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"Anna Karenina," one of the masterpieces of Russian literature, is on the stage en pointe. The new performance by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet, or ADOB, made its premiere Monday night.

The musical is an adaptation from Russian master Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel. It was choreographed by Andre Prokovsky and the music was composed by Guy Wooldenden. The orchestra is conducted by ADOB’s general director of music, Naci Özgüç. Alexandre Vassiliev has prepared the costumes and dŽcor.

Sanem Ergüler, Ayşem Sunal, Elif Fırat and Arzu Kıran alternate playing the role of Anna Karenina. Bahri Gürcan, Cankat Özer, Emre Güler, Burak Kayıhan, Cevat Aydemir, Ertuğrul Bolat, Barbaros Öztürk, Zeynep Nuryılmaz, Semih Küren, Mert Türkoğlu, Neşe Güne, Deniz Ertürk, Özlem Kuru Kofalı, Mine İzgi Örsçekiç, Ayşegül Aydemir, Hakan Odabaşı and Mert Kocaay have other leading roles in the play.

A touching story
Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Ergüler said the novel was a turning point in the world of literature. She said she was very affected by Anna Karenina, who suffered a lot of pain for the sake of love. She said it was a ballet performance using theatrical skills.

The artist said Anna’s love was a dramatic one, but her relationship with her son was more touching. "She is a mother who misses her child despite her love and all difficulties she faces," she said, adding that she believed audiences would be touched by her story.

Ergüler said, because Anna Karenina was a period piece, they had some difficulties staging it. "We change costumes seven to eight times during performances and this is most difficult part of the performance."

She said a two-volume novel had been made fit into a two-hour opera. "It is also technically tiresome, but it is very important to me to have the leading role in such a masterpiece because every dancer wants to play this role," she said, adding that interest in the play could be seen in ticket sales.

60th year of Turkish ballet
In the meantime, during the premiere of the play, the 60th anniversary of Turkish ballet was also celebrated. A bust of British Dame Ninette De Valois, who came to Turkey in 1948 upon the invitation of the Turkish government and trained students to contribute to the establishment of Turkish ballet, was unveiled in the premiere.

A costume and photography exhibition is also open to visitors in the Opera Foyer.