Ferzan Özpetek’s operas span the globe theaters

MADRID - Anatolia News Agency

Director Ferzan Özpetek’s ‘La Traviata” and ‘Aida’ operas will be staged in Hong Kong and Sao Paulo. DHA photo

Famous Turkish director Ferzan Özpetek’s opera interpretations will be staged in Hong Kong and Sao Paulo, organizers have announced.

“La Traviata” will be staged in Hong Kong, while “Aida” will be on stage in Brazil’s Sao Paulo. “La Traviata” was showed for the first time in Napoli and will be in Hong Kong until March 22. Özpetek, better known for his films, has been directing operas for a few years.

After “Aida” tours of Sao Paulo, it will go before Chinese audiences next year.

On the other hand, Özpetek’s “Magnificent Presence” will be shown in Japan. The “Loose Cannons,” another feature of Özpetek, will also be adapted to the theater in Japan having previously been staged in France.

The director, who has been based in Italy for years, is also preparing to shoot his new movie, “Fasten your seatbelts,” in Lecce in Puglia.

Özpetek staged Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” at Europe’s oldest theater, Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. The opera was performed at the opening of the season at the San Carlo on Dec. 5, 2012. Calling the San Carlo a unique theater, he said: “This place is a real sanctuary. It is the oldest and the most important theater in Europe. The biggest sopranos and directors were here. I am proud of it. I feel like a Turk seized the sanctuary of the theater.”

The director said rehearsals were challenging. “It is very difficult but enjoyable. I mean that I don’t get very tired when making cinema. It takes your all energy.”