Ankara Opera and Ballet season opens

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Ankara State Opera and Ballet welcomes a season full of many popular works. This season ADOB aims to attract audiences numbering 600,000. AA photo

The Ankara State Opera and Ballet (ADOB) raised the curtain on another season of performances with conductor Julian Kovatchev and clarinet artist Giampiero Sobrino. The orchestra played pieces by Verdi, Puccini, Bizet and Rossini.

Rengim Gökmen, the director of the ADOB, said they were about to welcome a season full of many popular works. This season ADOB aimed to attract audiences numbering 600,000, he said, speaking to Anadolu Agency.

The season will include a number of famous operas and new premieres. The program is set to include performances of “Rigoletto,” “Tosca,” “Macbeth” and “Don Giovanni.”

Amid the new premieres, ADOB will also put on many works that were performed last year due to their popularity. “Last year a youth musical ‘Fantastic’ completely sold out,” he said, adding that other blockbusters like “Anatolia with Sounds,” “Looking for a Tenor” and “Archine Mal Alan” would be back this year.

The production “The Bat” will also be on stage for audiences this year. As for ballet, there will be both modern and classic shows, he said. “Last season we decided to stage Muammer Sun’s ‘The Love’s Worth,’ ballet show. This was the world premiere. This excited us a lot last season. This year we will have Count Dracula as a world premiere.”

Another classic ballet, “Copellia,” will also be on stage, in addition to a new one titled “Mediterranean Breeze,” which consists of tango, bolero and ballet with different musical compositions.

There would be a total of 30 works on stage, as well as special surprises and extra events for state holidays and religious feasts.

The 2013-14 season will also feature two new works for children, including the Anatolian-themed Nasreddin Hoca opera, which was prepared and staged by Mustafa Erdoğan.