“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at the Congresium of Ankara on 19th October 2019, with Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini as Director.

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                                              Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

 

The opera “Aida,” one of the major productions of the State Opera and Ballet, was presented to art lovers in all of its magnificence at the Congresium Stage for the first time in the capital Ankara on Oct. 19, 2019.

The opera “Aida,” which is about the impossible love of the brave commander Radames and the captive Abyssinian Princess Aida, was staged at the Ancient Theatre of Aspendos last month. “Aida,” which has gone down in history as the “most beautiful opera” by Giuseppe Verdi, the famous Italian composer from the 19th Century School of Italian Opera, captivated audiences with its magnificent decor and costumes at the Congresium Stage in Ankara for the first time.

Directed by famous Italian director Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, “Aida” received great acclaim from the audience at the Ancient Theatre of Aspendos. That time, it was performed by the cast of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet with magnificent decor and costumes.

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                        Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

In turn, Feryal Türkoğlu, Nurdan Küçükekmekçi and Burçin Savıgne took on the role of “Aida,” Murat Karahan, Efe Kışlalı and Koray Damcıoğlu will play “Radames,” Ferda Yetişer, Ezgi Karakaya and Zeliha Kökçek will play “Amneris,” and Eralp Kıyıcı and Gürgan Gürgen took on the role of “Amonasro.” Again, alternately, the artists of the Ankara State Opera and Ballet Orchestra, under the direction of conductor Antonio Pirolli and conductor Can Okan, accompanied the performers.

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                              Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

At the Congresium on the evening of Oct. 19, art lovers had the opportunity to watch the “Radames” performance of “Aida” staged by State Opera and Ballet’s general manager and general art director, tenor Murat Karahan, at Italy’s historical Arena Di Verona and Antalya’s Ancient Theatre of Aspendos last summer. Feryal Türkoğlu sang “Aida” in the show.

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                        Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

The decor for the work was designed by Özgür Usta, the costumes by Savaş Camgöz and Gürcan Kubilay, and the lighting by Giovanni Pirandello; the choir was led by Giampaolo Vessella. Sergei Terechenko choreographed the production, which also featured ballet and children’s ballet performers from Ankara State Opera and Ballet.

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                        Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

“Aida” of Giuseppe Verdi at Ankara Congresium, 19th October 2019                     Photo credits: Emre Turan for Genel DOB

Last but not least, grateful thanks to General Director Murat Karahan who wished fom the bottom of his heart the return of the grand operas in Turkey and gave the right means to achieve this important decision.

 

16th March 2019: TURANDOT’s successful return at Ankara State Opera and Ballet

On 16th March 2019, Ankara State Opera and Ballet presented “Turandot”, the absolute masterpiece of Giacomo Puccini in a new production, with Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini as Stage Director and Maestro Antonio Pirolli as Conductor.

 

The two Maestros, long-term friends, remembered with emotion their first “Turandot” together some 19 years ago in the same Opera Theatre, with Soprano Nilgun Akkerman.

Under the impulsion of the new Director General of Turkish State Opera and Ballet, brilliant Tenor Murat Karahan who called back both Conductor and Stage Director to set up again a fairy tale style production, the actual resurrection of opera the way we like it, a fantastic evening opened up to the notes of Puccini’s last work…

The somptuous costumes of Savaş Camgöz, the magnificent sets of Özgür Usta and the magic lights of Fuat Gök have definitely given the performance the utmost touch of glamour. The public was enthusiastic and the applause at the end lasted more than fifteen minutes.

Mehlika Karadeniz Bilgin, who incarnated a very special Turandot, with her cristalline voice, declared about the production : “The work exposes how Turandot, the princess who doesn’t believe in love and hates men, gets to know love. It is the inner travel of a woman finding herself and a fight between her brain and heart. In fact, Turandot is the fight between the bad and the good,”

 

Explaining that the mystic and the mysterious side of the Far East are reflected on the opera, Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini said, “It portrays the inner conflicts of Princess Turandot and her fight with love.” Moreover, his classical and royal style given to the elegant stage direction confered to the opera the real sense of what opera should be on such an important stage as the Ankara State Opera and Ballet.

On another hand, the sincere friendship between Maestro Pirolli and Maestro Grisostomi Travaglini could be felt as their arts coincided in putting together the virtuosity of music tightly-knit with the respect of Puccini’s will to render solemnity and human research for truth and love. The climax was during the famous moment of Liù’s death, when the emotions reach the vibrations of everyone’s heart.

This exceptional production was also possible thanks to the participation of incredibly talented soloists such as  Mehlika Karadeniz Bilgin, Perihan Nayır Artan, Murat Karahan, Aykut Çınar, Efe Kışlalı, Cem Akyüz, Özgür Savaş Gençtürk, Şafak Güç, Esin Talınlı, Tuğba Mankal Dekak, Seda Aracı Ayazlı, Tuncer Tercan, Çetin Kıranbay, Emre Uluocak, Kamil Kaplan, Arda Doğan, İbrahim Halil Turgut, Barış Yanç and Emre Akkuş… and all the artists of the Ankara State Opera Koro, under the direction of Maestro Giampaolo Vessella.

A special mention for Çetin Kıranbay, Barış Yanç and Arda Doğan, unforgettable Ping, Pang and Pong whose stage plays fabulously funny and “grotesque” as originally described by Puccini was one of the greatest moments of the performance.

Çetin Kıranbay, Barış Yanç and Arda Doğan, unforgettable Ping, Pang and Pong

I must also recognise that one of the magic elements of this Turandot was the use of the Ankara State Ballet. Both men and women dancers were absolutely smashing and gave a dynamic to special moments, like the Pu Ting Pao appearances, which was unique.

Not to forget anyone, here are the names of this impressive cast for my favourite version of “TURANDOT” ever …

 

To be noted the presence in the audience, Enrico Stinchelli, a famous Italian radio conductor, special guest of Ankara State Opera and Ballet, who actually enjoyed the performance.

Together with Maestro Antonio Pirolli & Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini

Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini, between Umut Yasar, Director Assistant and Boran Savran, Staging Assistant…. and me !

 

CURTAIN CALL TURANDOT 16th MARCH 2019