On Tuesday 4th September 2018 was released a marvellous “Turandot” at XXVth Aspendos International Festival in Turkey.
Following the impulsion of the newly nominated Director General of Turkish Opera Theatres and Ballet, young and already famous Tenor Murat Karahan, “Turandot” has come back on Aspendos stage after eighteen years.
Last time, in 2000, Ankara’s Opera called Maestro Antonio Pirolli to be the conductor and Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini to assume the stage direction with the fantastic Nilgun Akkerman as Turandot and it was already a success.
This year, the choice of Maestro Alberto Veronesi as conductor, united with the return of Maestro Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini for the stage direction, indicates clearly the will of the Director General of the Turkish Opera to express with magnificent emphasis his taste for the genuine essence of art and music at its utmost level.
In the grandiose settings of Aspendos Antique Theatre, the best singers of Turkey were called to give life to the ultimate characters of Giacomo Puccini. The brilliant cast included Perihan Diana Nayir Artan as Princess Turandot, Murat Karahan as Prince Calaf, Lorenzo Mok Arranz as Emperor Altom, Teyfik Rodos as Timur, Seda Araci Ayazli as Liu, Murat Duyan as Ping, Tankut Esber as Pang, Serkan Teylan as Pong, Nejad Begde as one Mandarin and Serkan Sarikaya in the role of the Prince of Persia.
The lovely sets were signed by Ozgur Usta and the beautiful costumes by Savas Camgoz. To be noted the elegant choreography of Amagan Davran and the inspiring light designing of Fuat Gok.
The combination between the brio and sensitivity of Maestro Veronesi together with the supreme harmony of the royal court, rendered in a rich and colourful manner by Maestro Grisostomi Travaglini has reached its climax in this particularly difficult opera of Puccini. The audience was definitely convinced and the long ovation at the end of the performance was just the confirmation of the enthusiasm, already expressed when Murat Karahan was warmly invited to sing “Nessun dorma” a second time !
Last but not least, the incredible honour the artists were granted by His Excellency Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, when he went on stage to congratulate all of them with a bunch of white flowers in sign of gratitude for their art and work.
Many thanks to Official photographer Yusuf Emre Turan who did marvellous pictures of this enchanting evening.
Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong 