12th ASPENDOS INTERNATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL (June 11- July 19, 2005)

12th ASPENDOS INTERNATIONAL OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL
(June 11- July 19, 2005)

The 12th Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival is going to be held by the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet between June 11, 2005 and July 19, 2005.

Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival has proved itself with its artistic quality which increases year by year, and has become an event in which many world known groups would like to participate. 2000 years old ancient theatre in Aspendos is home to this festival with its magnificent acoustics. A total of 12 activities including the performances of 3 foreign groups will take place in the Festival between June 11 and July 19, 2005.

Accepted to the European Festivals Association (EFA) on October 24, 2003, Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival has taken a respectful place among other festivals in the world. In 2004, the English Independent Newspaper conducted a research among the opera festivals held all around the world and the Aspendos Festival ranked the 5th among the top ten. In addition, the Aspendos Festival is the first and only festival in the world with its ‘Quality Management Assurance Certificate: TS-EN-ISO 9001:2000’.

Foreign Guests

For the Opening Performance of the Festival on June 11, 2005, the Rome Opera Ballet is coming to Türkiye for the first time. With the accompaniment of Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, the famous Italian group will perform Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Fire Bird in the charming atmosphere of Aspendos Ancient Theatre. Being the last representative of Italian traditional classical ballet, the group has a rich repertoire including the works of contemporaneous choreographers besides the classical works. Founded as Teatro Reale dell’Opera in 1928, the theatre, managed by many famous conductors and directors until today, has been directed by Carla Fracci since 2000.

The group has announced that they will hold a press conference at the Rome Opera and Ballet House on April 6, 2005 with the aim of expressing their appreciation for participating in the Festival and contributing to its introduction.

World-famous Justus Frantz is going to conduct the 9th Symphony

Justus Frantz who is regarded as the most famous conductors of the world and the Philharmonic Orchestra is the second foreign guest of the Festival. Holding a press conference on January 12, 2005, the group acquired a large interest in the Turkish Press. With the accompaniment of the Chorus of the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet and Polyphonic State Chorus, the group will perform Beethoven’s 9th symphony, the official music of the European Union, which successfully deals with the themes of friendship, brotherhood and peace and on July 12, 2005.

Founded as a multi cultural one by the Justus Frantz in 1995, the Orchestra includes many young artists with different ages ranging from 21 to 26, from 5 different continents and 41 countries. The group provides an ideal atmosphere for the artists to express themselves in many ways and gather outside the international cultural borders. In addition, the group performed more than 1000 concerts in the world, and defined the music as their address.

Conductor Valery Gergiev, chosen as ‘The Best Artist of the World’ by UNESCO in 2003, is in Aspendos

Under the conduction of Valery Gergiev, the last activity will be performed by the famous Russian Mariinsky Theatre, Kirov Orchestra and the Soloists who gave concerts nearly in all countries of the world and achieved great success. Besides many rewards, Gergiev was granted the ‘Crystal Prize’ by the World Economic Forum because of his contribution to art and cultural dialogues. Also, he was chosen as ‘The Best Artist of the World’ by UNESCO in 2003.

Founded in 1700, Kirov Orchestra, the oldest musical institution in Russia, joined to the Mariinsky Theatre in 1869, and has educated innumerable opera soloists since then. After Valery Gergiev had become the Art Director of the Mariinsky Theatre in 1988 and the General Director in 1996, the theatre has developed more rapidly with regard to the artistic style. Recently in cooperation with the world famous institutions La Scala Opera and Ballet, Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera and Metropolitan Opera, the theatre will perform the concert version of ‘Eugene Onegin’ by P.I. Tchaikovsky on July 18, 2005, and a Gala Concert with a mixed program on July 19, 2005 for the closure of Aspendos Festival.

“12 Activities” in the Festival
G.Verdi’s giant work Aida Opera, which is traditionally put on stage each year by the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet under the conduction of Vincenzo G. Travaglini and highly appreciated by the audience, will also be performed this year on 22nd and 24th June in the magnificent acoustics of Aspendos Ancient Theatre.

“Nazım Hikmet Oratorio” will be featured by the orchestra with 200 musicians and a choir. This oratorio depicts epically the life and poems of Nazım Hikmet, who is regarded as one of the most important poets in Türkiye. Fazıl Say in piano, Zuhal Olcay in vocals and narrator Genco Erkal will accompany Bilkent Symphony Orchestra and Ministry of Culture and Tourism State Polyphonic Choir conducted by İbrahim Yazıcı.

The Directorate General gives a place to Turkish works of art in the Festival in order to introduce the Turkish composers and groups. In this respect, a different music and dance production named as “Güldestan” with the music by Mercan Dede and choreography by Beyhan Murphy will be introduced to the taste of audience. Various Anatolian cultural motifs are compiled in “Güldestan” which will be performed by the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet and Modern Dance Company.

Besides the 12th Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival presents R. Wagner’s Flying Dutchman Opera performed by İzmir Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, S. Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet Ballet and G. Bizet’s Carmen Opera by İstanbul Directorate of State Opera and Ballet and L. Minkus’s Don Quixote Ballet by Directorate of State Opera and Ballet.

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