The 28th edition of the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival will kick off with the performance of the opera “Murat IV” on September 4. The festival will present five exclusive performances, including two operas, one ballet and two concerts, at the ancient theater of Aspendos in the south of the province of Antalya.
The opera “Murat IV” is inspired by the life of the Ottoman Sultan Murat IV, his relationship with his mother Kösem Sultan and periodic and historical events and occupies an important place in the repertoire of Turkish opera. The opera will be performed by artists from the Antalya State Opera and Ballet.
Haldun Özörten is the director of the three-act opera, whose libretto was written by Turan Oflazoğlu.
As part of the festival, the famous opera “Madama Butterfly” by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini will meet art lovers at the ancient theater of Aspendos on September 10. Opera and Ballet Choir under the direction of Mahir Seyrek will stage the sad story of the American officer Pinkerton and the Japanese Cio Cio San in “Madama Butterfly”.
Another show to meet the public as part of the festival, the concert “3 sopranos, 3 tenors”. The concert, prepared with a wide repertoire ranging from opera arias to Neapolitans, from symphonic folk songs to popular songs, will take place on September 15.
The ballet “Pandemic”, which premiered some time ago, will be staged once for the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival. The Antalya State Opera and Ballet will present the only ballet of the festival on September 18.
The festival will end on September 23 with the “gala concert” of the Antalya State Opera and Ballet under the direction of Lazarov.