Aspendos fest returns to Antalya with Verdi, Tolstoy, Khachaturian

The 33rd International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival will return to Antalya, Türkiye, from September 12 to 26, 2026, featuring a diverse lineup of operatic and ballet productions. Organized by the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, the festival will present four major works at the historic Aspendos Ancient Theatre. These include one opera, two ballets and one staged cantata, spread across six performances. Artists from Kazakhstan’s Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre will participate in the program, with all performances scheduled to start at 9 p.m. The festival will open with Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Attila, staged by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet. This three-act opera, one of Verdi’s early masterpieces, delves into themes of power, loyalty, revenge and belonging. It dramatizes historical events centered around the Hun ruler Attila and Odabella’s vow of vengeance. The narrative intertwines elements of love, betrayal and a struggle for dominance, supported by Verdi’s compelling music and dramatic choral scenes. Directed by Yiğit Günsoy, the production will star Şafak Güç as Attila, Bilge Yılmaz as Odabella, Burak Pektaş as Foresto and Serhat Konukman as Ezio. The performance will be conducted by Lorenzo Castriota, with Mahir Seyrek leading the Antalya State Opera and Ballet Chorus. Set and costume designs are by Semahat Gülden Sayıl, while Bader Çakan handles choreography and Inan Erbil Sefer oversees lighting. On September 15, the festival will present the ballet Anna Karenina, offering a contemporary interpretation of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel. The production explores Anna’s internal conflict between love, loyalty, passion and jealousy. The score includes arrangements of music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Giacomo Puccini and Sergei Prokofiev, conducted by Tulio Gagliardo Varas. Choreographed by South Korean artist YoungSoon Hue, the ballet adopts a neoclassical style. Set design is by Çağda Çitkaya, costumes by Gülay Korkut and lighting by Mustafa Eski. The festival will continue on September 19 and 21 with Carl Orff’s renowned staged cantata Carmina Burana. This work examines the shifting fortunes of human life through themes of love, nature and fate, using powerful choral passages, rhythmic intensity and dynamic staging. Conducted by Maximilian Cem Haberstock, the performance will feature the Antalya State Opera and Ballet Orchestra alongside the Antalya State Opera and Ballet Chorus, led by Mahir Seyrek. The Antalya State Opera and Ballet Children’s Chorus will be directed by Sinem Emine Ulusoy. The production will involve approximately 250 performers, including soloists, orchestral members, choristers, dancers and a modern dance troupe. The festival will conclude on September 25 and 26 with the ballet Spartacus, staged by the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre. This institution, founded in 1934, is recognized for its broad repertoire and participation in global arts events. Spartacus is composed by Aram Khachaturian, with a libretto by Nikolai Volkov, revised by Yuri Grigorovich and choreographed by Zaurbek Raybayev, a People’s Artist of Kazakhstan. The production recounts the tale of the legendary gladiator who resisted the Roman Empire, showcasing dramatic structure, grand scenes and intricate choreography. The performance will take place at the Aspendos Ancient Theatre, marking the end of the festival’s programming.