By Anadolu Agency
June 17, 2025 5:10 pmANKARA / ISTANBUL
The 8th International Ephesus Opera and Ballet Festival will take place from June 27 to July 13 at the ancient theater in Ephesus in Aegean Türkiye, said the country’s Culture and Tourism Ministry.
Organized by the State Opera and Ballet, the festival will open with the iconic ballet Swan Lake, performed by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet on June 27 and 28 under the direction of Tolga Tavis.
The lead roles will be danced by Daniil Simkin of the American Ballet Theatre and Berlin State Ballet, and Berlin honorary dancer Iana Salenko. The performances will take place in the atmospheric setting of the historical Ephesus theater.
The Ephesus amphitheater is situated in one of the best-preserved ancient cities in the world. Located in western Türkiye, near the town of Selçuk in coastal Izmir, it is famed for a Temple of Artemis built around 550 BC among other sites.
The 8th International Ephesus Opera and Ballet Festival will showcase a blend of classic and contemporary productions.
On July 2, Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio will be staged by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet, directed by Caner Akin, with Orkhan Hashimov conducting the orchestra.
Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana will be performed on July 5 by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet, conducted by Vladimir Lungu with Orhan Oner Ozcan directing the choir.
The opera Forbidden Love, based on the novel by Halit Ziya Usakligil, will be staged on July 8 by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet. Hakan Kalkan is the music director, and Reyhan Sume will direct the production.
Another major performance will be Verdi’s La Traviata on July 11. The opera will be staged by the Samsun State Opera and Ballet with support from the Izmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra. World-famous Serbian baritone Zeljko Lucic will appear as a guest performer in the role of Giorgio Germont.
A special children’s show, the musical play Sekeronya, will be presented by the Izmir State Opera and Ballet on June 29 at the Bornova Culture and Art Center.
The festival will conclude on July 13 with the ballet Zorba the Greek, performed by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet.
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