Istanbul Opera Festival to open curtain

ISTANBUL

The Ninth International Istanbul Opera Festival, organized by the State Opera and Ballet General Directorate, will kick off on June 21 with the world famous prima donna Kristine Opolais’s gala concert. 

According to a written statement by the State Opera and Ballet General Directorate, the event will take place until July 7. 

Within the scope of the festival, opera masterpieces such as “Abduction from the Seraglio,” “La Traviata,” and “Zorba the Greek” will be presented on the stage with the participation of national and international artists. 

Opolais, who will take the stage for the first time in Turkey, will give a gala concert under the baton of Antoni Pirolli at Zorlu PSM. 

Opolais is one of the best known sopranos on international opera stages. She is working with legendary conductors like Daniel Barenboim, Antonio Pappano, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, Daniel Harding, Andris Nelsons, Fabio Luisi, Kirill Petrenko and Semyon Bychkov, and gives concerts with orchestras including OPOLAİS, Musikverein, Concertgebouw, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Concertgebouworkest, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Filarmonica della Scala. 

The festival will continue on June 28-29 with “Abduction from the Seraglio” at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. The work will be staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet under the conduction of Zdravko Lazarov. 

One of the most popular operas in recent years, Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata” will be on the Zorlu PSM stage on June 3-4. Turkish soprano Burcu Uyar will play the leading role in the opera. 

Uyar, who took vocal training in Turkey and continues her artistic life in France, successfully represents Turkey on the European stage. 

Tenor Georgio Oniani, who has played the leading roles in the operas like La Scala, Deutsche Oper in Berlin and Marinsky Theater, as well as Vladimir Stayanov, one of the most important baritones in the world, will also be on the stage in the opera to be conducted by Alessandro Cedrone. 

Nikos Kazancakis’ world famous opera, “Zorba the Greek” will be on the stage on July 7 at Zorlu PSM with the music of Mikis Theodorakis and choreography of Lorca Massine. The work will be staged by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. 

Tickets for the festival are available in the box offices of Biletiva, Zorlu PSM, and Süreyya Opera House.