Opera

The General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet has started preparations for the 31st International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival, scheduled to take place in the southern province of Antalya from Sept. 13 to 26.

The works to be staged in the festival, which has been held for 30 years at the historical Aspendos Theater in Serik district, have been launched.

Maestro Andrea Bocelli will perform at Vasil Levski Stadium on September 14th.

The opera "Medge," created by the eminent Greek composer Spyros Samaras (1861-1917), is presented at the Olympia Municipal Music Theater (59 Akadimias) on February 17.

When it comes to New Year's traditions in Athens, a date with the Athens Concert Hall (megaron.gr) at the end of the year is a must. The Megaron has announced its New Year's Gala and it comes with Parisian flair.

In his previous life, Luvo Maranti didn't read music and the only thing he knew about opera was who Luciano Pavarotti was. He and his friends used to imitate the Italian tenor before bursting into laughter.

This week, the 29-year-old South African will sing his lungs out at Operalia, one of the most prestigious opera competitions in the world.

As a wealth of British theater and opera maestros cross the Channel to perform at French festivals this summer, many are worried about the state of live arts back home.

The combined impact of Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and a Conservative government that sees live arts as a low priority have all taken their toll.

His main enemy is still Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner.
Prigozhin spoke out again today, publishing a video of himself standing in front of the dead bodies of his soldiers in Ukraine, insulting the Russian military leadership, which again blames the death of Wagner's soldiers.

The 14th International Istanbul Opera Festival opens today at Atatürk Cultural Center's (AKM) Türk Telekom Opera Hall and Theater Stage and will take place through June 22.

The General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet (DOB) will present world-famous opera and ballet works at international festivals in the summer, starting in Istanbul on June 10 and ending in Antalya on Sept. 21.

He warned that the Ukrainian counter-offensive could turn into a "tragedy for Russia".
"We (Wagner) only have 10-15 percent of the ammunition we need," said the Wagner leader in a conversation with war correspondent Semyon Pegov, who is close to the Kremlin.