International Istanbul Opera Festival, which highlights Istanbul as one of the most distinguished art cities of the world and has an important place in the world with the artistic quality it reaches in a short time, will meet art fans on July 2nd.

The festival, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, will continue until July 14 with unforgettable masterpieces at the Istanbul Zorlu Performing Arts Center.

"Bolshoi Theatre" will be on stage for the first time with two gala concerts during the festival to be organized by General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet of the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism together with the main sponsor ING.

The festival will celebrate the 779th anniversary of Yunus Emre's birth with an oratorio to be performed during the event that begins with the Turandot opera of Ankara State Opera and Ballet on July 2-3.

Troy Epic Opera, a huge production combining the opera and ballet cast under the guidance of Murat Karahan, who is the general art director of State Opera and Ballet and a famous tenor, will be put on stage for the audience on July 6 and 7.

The leading role in Turandot, directed by guest Italian director Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, will be performed by renowned Korean soloist Lilla Lee on 2 July and another famous Kazakh soloist Zhupar Gabdullina on 3 July.

Lines of Yunus Emre on opera stage

Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will perform on July 10th the Yunus Emre Oratorio, carrying onto the stage the love of famous folk poet Yunus Emre with his poems composed by Ahmet Adnan Saygun. The librettos of the work, where art lovers may see the performance of orchestra, choirs and dancers together on stage, belong to Uğur Seyrek and Işık Noyan.

This first native Turkish oratorio, composed by Ahmed Adnan Saygun, will be performed for the first time during this festival, coupled with a dance choreographed by Uğur Seyrek.

Bolsoi Theatre to bring a Russian breeze

The "Bolshoi Soloists Gala Concert" on July 13 and 14, bringing a Russian breeze to the festival, will be on stage on the last two days of the event and offer the audience a magnificent music feast with a rich repertoire. 

Bolshoi Theater soloists soprano Anna Nechaeva, Mezzo-soprano Yulia Mazurova, Tenor Fyodor Ataskevich and Baritone Pavel Yankovsky, who have successfully performed the most challenging roles and won many international awards, will perform arias and duets from famous operas.

During the concerts, parts will be performed from the operas of 'Sevil Barber', “Il Trovatore”, “Carmen”, “Masquerade”, “La Forza del Destino”, “Samson and Dalila”, “Manon Lescaut”, “Don Carlo”, ”Don Giovanni”, “Tales of Hoffman”, “Turandot” and “La Traviata”.

(16.06.2019)