Turkey's Efes Opera and Ballet Festival Concludes with Puccini's Tosca

The State Opera and Ballet General Directorate staged the 9th International Efes Opera and Ballet Festival from 26 June to 8 July 2024. Over 13 days the program ran at the Efes Ancient Theatre and the Bornova Cultural and Art Center, presenting five works – one opera, two ballets, a cantata and a children's play – in eight performances.

The closing performance was Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca. Orchestra conductor Roberto Gianola led the ensemble under the direction of Yiğit Günsoy, with set and costume design by Gülden Sayıl and lighting by İnan Sefer. Italian tenor Ivan Magrì withdrew for health reasons; his role of Cavaradossi was taken over by Erdem Erdoğan. The cast also featured Filiz Güneş as Tosca, Cengiz Sayın as Scarpia and other artists such as Sabri Çapanoğlu, Görkem İbrahim Özcan, Tankut Eşber, Christopher Gagliardo, Suhan Arslan and Ceylin Horasan. Approximately 2 000 spectators attended the finale.

Festival director Tan Sağtürk, who had just been re‑elected to senior posts at the International Ballet Federation in Moscow, was present with his family. The State Opera and Ballet will continue its summer season with the 23rd International Bodrum Ballet Festival (31 July‑17 August) and the 33rd International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival (12‑26 September), featuring additional productions and guest artists from the Kosovo National Ballet.