New director of State Opera and Ballet proclaims himself ‘Turkey’s enlightened face’ in CV

ISTANBUL

Selman Ada took over as the new director of Turkey’s State Opera and Ballet from his predecessor, Rengim Görkmen, late last month.

Mastering self-praise on a resume requires a lot of talent and a lot of confidence, and the leaked CV of Selman Ada, the new director of Turkey’s State Opera and Ballet, shows that he doesn’t shy away from the art of bragging about himself.

Turkey’s self-proclaimed “enlightened face” recently took over from his predecessor, Rengim Görkmen - who was controversially removed from the position last month for criticizing a government-drafted law on the Turkish Art Institution - and was the first Turkish composer to enter the world opera repertoire with his “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.” As the resume obtained by daily Hürriyet makes clear, Ada never hesitates to let all know what a big honor that is.

In the resume, he describes himself as the “number one of number ones” and the “first Turkish opera composer to open himself to the world.” He also demonstrates virtuosity in using creative metaphors, describing himself as an “excellent conductor” who “forges tradition to make it universal with the mastership of a magician.”

He also proudly declares that his compositions have become “a school” in their own right in music.

As the resume went viral and was sarcastically criticized in  Turkish media on Aug. 15, it was removed from the DOB's official website.