LEYLA GENCER: "DONIZETTI QUEENS"

17 May 2018
• NEWS

Borusan Sanat proudly presents a tribute project to Leyla Gencer who has made great contributions to opera literature throughout her outstanding career: revived and rendered by the diva, Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda,  “Donizetti Queens” has been released for music enthusiasts by A.K. music label.

Borusan Sanat has been commemorating Leyla Gencer with a concert version of an opera within Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra’s seasonal program for the past ten years. For the tenth anniversary of Gencer’s passing, Borusan Sanat brings a special project to life. The project titled “Donizetti Queens” intends to present music enthusiasts with Leyla Gencer’s renditions of Donizetti’s operasabout three Tudor queens; Anna Bolena, Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda.

The Donizetti operas hold a special place in Gencer’s wide repertory. The trend of reviving neglected operas started when Maria Callas performed Anna Bolena at the La Scala in 1957, and Gencer succesfuly carried on this trend. During the 1960’s at the climax of her career, the artist cemented her fame by performing Donizetti operas such as Belisario, Poliuto, Anna Bolena, Lucrezia Borgia, Maria Stuarda, Les Martyrs and Caterina. Her greatest success was for her role of Elisabeth I in Roberto Devereux staged in Naples on May 2, 1964.

“Donizetti Queens” is comprised of Anna Bolena, Roberto Devereux and Maria Stuarda operas based on the three iconic queens of the British Empire; Anne Boleyn, Elisabeth I and Mary Stuarda. Gencer first performed Anna Bolena, a role greatly identified with Callas, for RAI and received high praises for her unique rendition.

The project brings together Leyla Gencer’s live recordings of Anna Bolena on August 11, 1958 at RAI, Milan; Roberto Devereux on May 2, 1964 at the San Carlo Theatre, Naples; and Maria Stuarda on May 2, 1967 in Florence.

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