Turkish opera ‘Troy’ to take stage at Russia’s Bolshoi Theater

ANKARA

“Troy,” one of the most important productions of Turkey’s State Opera and Ballet (DOB) in 2018, will open to the world and meet opera lovers in Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Theater before visiting Berlin later.

The inauguration of the “2019 Turkey-Russia Culture and Tourism Year” will be made on April 8 at the Bolshoi Theater, one of the major art institutions in the Russian capital of Moscow, with “Troy,” which brings together ballet and opera. 

DOB general director Murat Karahan, who is also the general art director of the show, told state-run Anadolu Agency that “Troy” is one of the most exciting works of this season for Turkey’s state opera.

Stating that they were proud of realizing a giant production of 300 people, which he said was unprecedented in the history of the Turkish Republic, Karahan said: “Our representations continue tremendously. The first show played to a full house in a hall of 3,000 people. The appreciation of viewers encourages us.” 

He said that they had received many proposals to stage “Troy” abroad and that they would evaluate the proposals within their program. 

Stating that there would be various cultural relations between the two countries as part of the 2019 Turkey-Russia Culture and Tourism Year, Karahan said that a delegation, headed by Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Haluk Dursun, held talks on the subject in Moscow. 

“As part of the 2019 Turkey-Russia Culture and Tourism Year, for the first time a Turkish opera will be staged on the main stage of Bolshoi Theater on the night of April 8. We will perform a Turkish opera with a team of 300 people. For us, there is one more valuable aspect of this representation: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Russian President Vladimir Putin will inaugurate the event together. We are very excited. We are still working,” he said. 

Karahan said Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy provided support to all productions and festivals of DOB, adding: “We will stage ‘Troy’ in Berlin in April with his support.”

Noting the importance of representing Turkish works abroad because “art is the soft power of countries,” Karahan said: “We blended myths and legends of our land with the melodies of our land. ‘Troy’ is one of the first examples. It has something that is unique in the world. Ballet and opera are being staged equally for the first time in the world. It is very important for us to achieve this. We will show this side of our face to the world.” 

Karahan said that they would try to stage “Troy” every month upon great demand, adding: “We will take the work to the Istanbul Opera Festival this year. Viewers in Istanbul will meet ‘Troy’ in the summer, too. We will make two representations.”