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]'s '']'' at ] in 1969.]] {{Short description|Turkish operatic soprano (1928–2008)}}]'s '']'' at ] in ], 1969.]]
'''Leyla Gencer''', or '''Ayşe Leyla Çeyrekgil''' (October 10, 1928 – May 10, 2008) was a world-renowned Turkish ]tic ].


'''Leyla Gencer''' ({{IPA|tr|lejˈla ɟenˈdʒeɾ}}, née '''Çeyrekgil'''; 10 October 1928{{spaced ndash}}10 May 2008) was a ] ]tic ].<ref name=":0" />
Known as ''"La Diva Turca"'' (The Turkish Diva) and ''"La Regina"'' (The Queen) in the opera world, Gencer was a notable ] soprano who spent most of her career in Italy, from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a repertoire encompassing more than seventy roles. She made very few commercial recordings; however, numerous ]s of her performances exist. In particular, Gencer was associated with the heroines of ].


Gencer was a notable '']'' soprano who spent most of her career in ], from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a repertoire encompassing more than seventy roles.<ref name=":0" /> She made very few commercial recordings; however, numerous ]s of her performances exist. She was particularly associated with the heroines of ].<ref> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060621072437/http://www.belcantosociety.org/pages/gencer.html |date=2006-06-21 }}, belcantosociety.org; accessed 29 May 2015.</ref><ref name=":0" />
== Biography ==


==Early life==
Leyla Gencer was born in ] as the daughter of a ] father and ] mother. Her mother, Lexanda Angela Minakovska (who later converted to Islam and chose the name ''Atiye'' after her husband's death), was the member of a Polish Catholic family of the ]; while her father, Hasanzade İbrahim Bey (who later adopted the surname ''Çeyrekgil'' following the ] of 1934) was a wealthy businessman who descended from a Turkish family of the Sunni Muslim faith, from the city of ].<ref></ref>
Leyla Gencer was born in ] (near ]) to a ] father and a ] mother.<ref name=":0" /> Her father, Hasanzade İbrahim Bey (who took the surname ''Çeyrekgil'' under the ] of 1934), was a wealthy businessman, whose family was from the city of ]. Her mother, Lexanda Angela Minakovska, was from a Roman Catholic family of the ] (she later converted to ] and chose the name ''Atiye'' after her husband's death.)<ref name=":0">, Telegraph.co.uk; accessed 29 May 2015.</ref> Gencer's father died when she was very young during a flash flood.<ref name=":0" /> She grew up in the ] neighbourhood of Istanbul, on the ]n side of the ] strait. In 1946, she married İbrahim Gencer, a banker related to the influential ] family.<ref name=":1">, Guardian.co.uk; accessed 20 September 2017.</ref>


==Education and early career==
Gencer lost her father at a very young age. She grew up in the Çubuklu district of Istanbul, on the ]n side of the ], and began to study singing at the ]; but dropped out to study privately in ] with her teacher, the Italian soprano ]. She sang in the chorus of the ] until she made her operatic debut in Ankara in 1950 as Santuzza in '']''. During the next few years, she became well-known in Turkey and sang frequently at functions for the Turkish government.
She began to study singing at the Istanbul Conservatory but dropped out to study privately in ] with her teacher the Italian soprano ].<ref name=":0" /> After Arangi-Lombardi's death, Gencer continued her studies with the Italian baritone ]. She sang in the chorus of the Turkish State Theater until 1950, when she made her operatic debut in Ankara, as Santuzza in '']''. During the next few years, she became well known in Turkey and sang frequently at functions for the Turkish government.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}


==Career==
In 1953, Gencer made her Italian debut at the ] in ] as Santuzza. She returned to Naples the following year for performances of '']'' and '']''. In 1957, she made her debut at ] in ] as Mme. Lidoine in the world premiere of ]'s '']''. She went on to appear regularly at La Scala, performing nineteen roles between 1957 and 1983, including Leonora in '']'', Elisabetta in '']'', '']'', Lady Macbeth in '']'', '']'', Ottavia in '']'', and '']''. At La Scala, she also appeared as the First Woman of Canterbury in the world premiere of ]'s ''L'assassinio nella cattedrale'' in 1958.
In 1953, Gencer made her Italian debut at the ] in ] as Santuzza.<ref name=":0" /> She returned to Naples the following year for performances of '']'' and '']''. In 1957, she made her debut at ] in ] as New Prioress in the world premiere of ]'s '']''.<ref name=":1" /> She went on to appear regularly at La Scala, performing nineteen roles between 1957 and 1983 including Leonora in '']'', Elisabetta in '']'',<ref name=":1" /> the title role in '']'', Lady Macbeth in '']'',<ref name=":1" /> the title role in '']'', Ottavia in '']'' and '']''. At La Scala, she also appeared as the First Woman of Canterbury in the world premiere of ]'s ''L'assassinio nella cattedrale'' in 1958.<ref name=":0" /> In 1960, she toured the ], singing concerts in ] and ].


In 1962, she debuted at the ], ] as Elisabetta di Valois in '']'' and Donna Anna in '']''.<ref name=":1" /> Her United States debut had been at the ] in 1956, as Francesca in ]'s '']''. She sang in other American opera houses as well, but never at the ], despite discussions about her being engaged to sing '']'' there, also in 1956.
In 1960 Gencer visited with concert programme ], where she performed in ] and in ].


She sang ]'s ] in Paris with ], a ]-] concert at La Scala, and a concert involving 'operas about Turks' in the Venetian carnival at ], showing her innovative character as an opera singer. Her last appearance on the operatic stage was in 1985, with ''La Prova di un'opera seria'' at La Fenice. She continued to appear in concerts until 1992. She was still active as of 2007, and had recently been appointed by La Scala's music director ] to run its school for young artists.
In 1962, Gencer made her debut at the ], ] as Elisabetta di Valois and as Donna Anna in '']''. She made her U.S. debut at the ] in 1956 as Francesca in '']''. She sang at other American opera houses as well, but never sang at the ], though there had been discussions for her to sing '']'' there in 1956.


Throughout her career, Gencer was particularly well known for her ], including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''.<ref name=":0" /> Her most acclaimed and best-known performance, though, was the '']'' she sang in Naples in 1964. Aside from ''bel canto'' roles, her repertory included works by such composers as ], ] and ]. She appeared in many rarely performed operas, including ]'s ''La Falena'', ]'s '']'', ]'s ''Agnese di Hohenstaufen'', ]'s ''Saffo'' and ]'s '']''.
Chopin's 'Lyric Compositions' she performed in Paris with Nikita Magaloff, her Liszt-Bartok performance in La Scala and her concert regarding 'the operas about Turks' within the Venice Carnival at La Fenice Theatre, show her innovative character as an opera singer. In 1985, Gencer retired from the operatic stage with a performance of ]'s ''La Prova di un'opera seria'' at ]. She continued to appear in concerts until 1992. As of 2007, she was still active, and had recently been appointed by La Scala's music director ] to run its school for young artists.


Gencer rose to international stardom in a short time, singing under some of the greatest Italian maestros, such as ], ], ], and ]. She contributed to the 'Donizetti Renaissance' with her great performances of Donizetti's forgotten operas. Her repertoire consisted of 72 roles, including operas by Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart, Cherubini, Spontini, ], Puccini, Prokofiev, Britten, Poulenc, Menotti, and Rocca, encompassing lyric, coloratura, and dramatic soprano roles.<ref name=":1" />
Throughout her career, Gencer was known primarily as a ] interpreter. Among her best-known Donizetti performances are '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. Her most acclaimed and best-known performance, though, was '']'', which she sang in Naples in 1964.


Starting in 1982, she dedicated herself to teaching young opera singers.<ref name=":0" /> She worked as didactic art director of As.Li.Co. of Milan between 1983–88, and was appointed by Maestro ] to run La Scala's School for Young Artists in 1997-1998. As artistic director of the academy for opera artists in ], she specialized in teaching operatic interpretation. In 1996, she appeared in ]'s film ''Opera Fanatic''.
In addition to the ] roles for which she is best known, Gencer's repertory also included works by such composers as ], ], and ]. She appeared in many rarely performed operas, including ]'s ''La Falena'', ]'s '']'', ]'s ''Agnese di Hohenstaufen'', ]'s ''Saffo'', and ]'s '']''.


==Death==
Gencer achieved an international career in a short time and performed with renowned Italian maestros such as; Gui, Serafin, Gavazzeni and Muti. She contributed to the improvement of the 'Donizetti Renaissance' with her great performances of Donizetti's forgotten operas.
Gencer died on 10 May 2008, aged 79, in Milan. Following her funeral service in ] and subsequent ] in Milan, her ashes were brought to Istanbul and scattered in the waters of the Bosphorus on May 16, by famous musician ], according to her wish.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=104729|title=Ashes of Leyla Gencer scattered across Bosporus|work=Turkish Daily News|date=17 May 2008}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>, independent.co.uk; accessed 29 May 2015.</ref><ref>{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, denverpost.com; accessed 29 May 2015.</ref>


Ten years after her death, in 2018, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts commemorated Leyla Gencer with the 9th edition of the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition and an exhibition titled ''Primadonna and Solitude''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Leyla Gencer: La Diva Turca info |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10093120/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl |website=IMDB |accessdate=16 October 2019}}</ref>
Gencer's repertoire consists of 72 roles including works from composers such as; Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart to neo-classical period; from Cherubini, Spontini, ] and the romantic period to Puccini, Prokofiev, Britten, Poulenc, Menotti and Rocca; from a lyric soprano varying to dramatic ].


In 2019, IKSV commissioned a film, ''Leyla Gencer: La Diva Turca'', written by ], which was screened at the ] Festival at the Arcola Theatre.
In 1982, Gencer dedicated herself for education of young opera artists. She worked as a didactic art director of As.Li.Co. of Milan between 1983-88 and was appointed by Maestro Riccardo Muti to run La Scala's School for Young Artists between 1997-1998. Gencer was the artistic director of the academy for opera artists formed in ] where she taught opera interpretation.


==Discography==
Gencer performed leading roles in many famous operas and she is known as the 'last diva of the 20th century'. She achieved her strong presence in the opera world, not only by the variety of her repertoire, but also with the dramatic nuances that she attributed to the roles she performed. Being a good researcher and a teacher, she reintroduced many forgotten works of the romantic period to the opera stages. In 1996 she had a spectacular appearance in ]'s film ''Opera Fanatic''.
* ]: ''Norma''/1966, de Fabritiis, Gencer, Cossotto, et al.

* Bellini: ''Norma''/1965, Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al.
Gencer died on May 10, 2008 in Milan, Italy. Following the funeral service in ] and subsequently ] in Milan, her ashes were brought to Istanbul and consigned to the waters of the ] on May 16, 2008 according to her wish.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?enewsid=104729 |title=Ashes of Leyla Gencer scattered across Bosporus |work=Turkish Daily News |date=2008-05-17 }}</ref>
* Bellini: ''Beatrice di Tenda'' 1964/Gui, Gencer, Zanasi, et al.

* Bellini: ''I Puritani'' 1961/Quadri, Gencer, Raimondi, et al.
==Obituaries==
* Pacini: ''Saffo'' 1967/Gencer, Del Bianco, Mattiucci
* ''The Independent''
* ''The Guardian''
* ''Telegraph''
* ''Times''
* ''The New York Times''
* ''Los Angeles Times''
* ''International Herald Tribune''
* ''Boston Herald''
* ''The Boston Globe''
* ''Denver Post''
* BBC
* ''Turkish Daily News''

== Discography ==

* ]: ''Norma'' / 1966, de Fabritiis, Gencer, Cossotto, et al.
* Bellini: ''Norma'' / 1965, Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al.
* Bellini: ''Beatrice di Tenda''1964 / Gui, Gencer, Zanasi, et al.
* Bellini: ''I Puritani'' 1961 / Quadri, Gencer, Raimondi, et al.
* Pacini: ''Saffo'' 1967 / Gencer, Del Bianco, Mattiucci
* ]: ''Medea'' 1968/ Gencer, Bottion, et al. * ]: ''Medea'' 1968/ Gencer, Bottion, et al.
* ]: ''Medea in Corinto'' 1976/ Ferro, Gencer, Johns * ]: ''Medea in Corinto'' 1976/Ferro, Gencer, Johns
* Gluck: ''Alceste'' 1967/ Gui, Gencer, Picchi * Gluck: ''Alceste'' 1967/ Gui, Gencer, Picchi
* ]: ''Polish Songs''; ] / Leyla Gencer, Nikita Magaloff * ]: '']''; ]/Leyla Gencer, Nikita Magaloff
* ]: ''Anna Bolena'' 1958/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al. * ]: ''Anna Bolena'' 1958/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al.
* Donizetti: ''Anna Bolena'' 1965/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Cava, et al. * Donizetti: ''Anna Bolena'' 1965/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Cava, et al.
* Donizetti: ''Caterina Cornaro'' 1972 / Cillario, Gencer, Aragall * Donizetti: ''Caterina Cornaro'' 1972/Cillario, Gencer, Aragall
* Donizetti: ''Les Martyrs'' / 1975 Camozzo, Gencer, Bruson, et al. * Donizetti: ''Les Martyrs''/1975 Camozzo, Gencer, Bruson, et al.
* Donizetti: ''Les Martyrs'' / 1978 Gelmetti, Gencer, Bruson, et al. * Donizetti: ''Les Martyrs''/1978 Gelmetti, Gencer, Bruson, et al.
* Donizetti: ''Lucrezia Borgia'' / 1970 Gracis, Gencer, Raimondi et al. * Donizetti: ''Lucrezia Borgia''/1970 Gracis, Gencer, Raimondi et al.
* Donizetti: ''Lucrezia Borgia'' / 1966 Franci, Gencer, Aragall, Petri et al. * Donizetti: ''Lucrezia Borgia''/1966 Franci, Gencer, Aragall, Petri et al.
* Donizetti: ''Maria Stuarda'' / 1967 Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Verret, Tagliavini et al. * Donizetti: ''Maria Stuarda''/1967 Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Verrett, Tagliavini et al.
* Donizetti: ''Messa di Requiem'' / Gavazzeni, Teatro La Fenice * Donizetti: ''Messa di Requiem''/Gavazzeni, Teatro La Fenice
* Donizetti: ''Roberto Devereux'' 1964 / Gencer, Cappuccilli, et al. * Donizetti: ''Roberto Devereux'' 1964/Gencer, Cappuccilli, et al.
* Donizetti: ''Belisario'' 1969 / Gavazzeni, Gencer, Taddei et al. * Donizetti: ''Belisario'' 1969/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Taddei et al.
* Mozart: ''Don Giovanni'' 1960/ Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Petri, Bruscantini, Stich-Randall et al. * Mozart: ''Don Giovanni'' 1960/Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Petri, Bruscantini, Stich-Randall et al.
* Mozart: ''Don Giovanni'' 1962/ Solti, Gencer, Jurinac, Freni * Mozart: ''Don Giovanni'' 1962/Solti, Gencer, Jurinac, Freni
* ]: ''La Gioconda'' 1971 / de Fabritiis, Gencer, Raimondi * ]: ''La Gioconda'' 1971 / de Fabritiis, Gencer, Raimondi
* ]: ''Dialogues Des Carmélites'' 1957/ ] conductor, Gencer, ], ], et al. (premiere in Italian translation)
* ]: ''Francesca da Rimini'' 1961 / Capuana, Gencer, Cioni et al.
* Rossini: ''Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra'' 1971/ Sanzogno, Gencer, Grilli * ]: ''Francesca da Rimini'' 1961 / Capuana, Gencer, Cioni, et al.
* ]: ''I due Foscari" 1957/ Serafin, Gencer, Guelfi * Rossini: ''Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra'' 1971/Sanzogno, Gencer, Grilli
* Verdi: ''Battaglia di Legnano'' 1959/ Gencer, Limarilli * ]: ''I due Foscari'' 1957/Serafin, Gencer, Guelfi
* Verdi: ''Rigoletto'' 1961/ Quadri, Gencer, McNeil, Raimondi * Verdi: ''La Battaglia di Legnano'' 1959/ Gencer, Limarilli
* Verdi: ''Gerusalemme'' 1963/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Aragall, Guelfi * Verdi: ''Rigoletto'' 1961/Quadri, Gencer, MacNeil, Raimondi
* Verdi: ''I Vespri Siciliani'' 1965/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, et al. * Verdi: ''Gerusalemme'' 1963/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Aragall, Guelfi
* Verdi: ''Macbeth'' 1960/ Gui, Gencer, Taddei, Picchi et al. * Verdi: ''I Vespri Siciliani'' 1965/Gavazzeni, Gencer, et al.
* Verdi: ''Macbeth'' 1968/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Guelfi, Corradi, et al. * Verdi: ''Macbeth'' 1960/Gui, Gencer, Taddei, Picchi et al.
* Verdi: ''Attila'' 1972/ Silipigni, Gencer, Hines * Verdi: ''Macbeth'' 1968/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Guelfi, Corradi, et al.
* Verdi: ''Ernani'' 1972/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Bergonzi * Verdi: ''Attila'' 1972/Silipigni, Gencer, Hines
* Verdi: ''Ernani'' 1972/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Bergonzi
* Verdi: ''Simon Boccanegra'' 1961/ Gavazzeni, Gobbi, Gencer * Verdi: ''Simon Boccanegra'' 1961/ Gavazzeni, Gobbi, Gencer
* Verdi: ''Trovatore'' 1957/Previtali, Gencer, Del Monaco, Barbieri, Bastianini * Verdi: ''Il Trovatore'' 1957/Previtali, Gencer, Del Monaco, Barbieri, Bastianini
* Verdi: ''Un ballo in maschera'' 1961/ Gencer, Bergonzi * Verdi: ''Un ballo in maschera'' 1961/Gencer, Bergonzi
* Verdi: ''Aida'' 1966/ Capuana, Gencer, Bergonzi, Cossotto * Verdi: ''Aida'' 1966/ Capuana, Gencer, Bergonzi, Cossotto
* Verdi: ''La Forza del Destino'' 1957/ Serafin, Gencer, Di Stefano * Verdi: ''La Forza del Destino'' 1957/Serafin, Gencer, Di Stefano
* Verdi: ''La Forza del Destino'' 1965/ Molinari Pradelli, Gencer, Bergonzi * Verdi: ''La Forza del Destino'' 1965/Molinari Pradelli, Gencer, Bergonzi
* Spontini: ''La Vestale'' 1969/Previtali, Gencer, Merolla, Bruson

== See also ==


==See also==
* ] * ]


==References==
== External links ==
{{reflist}}
*
*
*
*
*
* (1978).
*


== References == ==External links==
*
* ], ''Post-Ottoman Turkey: Classical Music and Opera'' (Charleston, SC: BookSurge Publishing. 2009)
*
*
*
*


===Obituaries===
* ''The Independent''
* ''The Guardian''
* ''Times''
* ''The New York Times''
* ''Los Angeles Times''
* ''International Herald Tribune''
* ''Boston Herald''
* ''The Boston Globe''
* BBC
* ''Turkish Daily News''


{{Authority control}}
{{reflist}}


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Latest revision as of 18:24, 18 December 2024

Turkish operatic soprano (1928–2008)
Leyla Gencer as Antonina in Gaetano Donizetti's Belisario at La Fenice in Venice, 1969.

Leyla Gencer (Turkish pronunciation: [lejˈla ɟenˈdʒeɾ], née Çeyrekgil; 10 October 1928 – 10 May 2008) was a Turkish operatic soprano.

Gencer was a notable bel canto soprano who spent most of her career in Italy, from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a repertoire encompassing more than seventy roles. She made very few commercial recordings; however, numerous bootleg recordings of her performances exist. She was particularly associated with the heroines of Donizetti.

Early life

Leyla Gencer was born in Polonezköy (near Istanbul) to a Turkish father and a Polish mother. Her father, Hasanzade İbrahim Bey (who took the surname Çeyrekgil under the Surname Law of 1934), was a wealthy businessman, whose family was from the city of Safranbolu. Her mother, Lexanda Angela Minakovska, was from a Roman Catholic family of the Lithuanian aristocracy (she later converted to Islam and chose the name Atiye after her husband's death.) Gencer's father died when she was very young during a flash flood. She grew up in the Çubuklu neighbourhood of Istanbul, on the Anatolian side of the Bosphorus strait. In 1946, she married İbrahim Gencer, a banker related to the influential İpekçi family.

Education and early career

She began to study singing at the Istanbul Conservatory but dropped out to study privately in Ankara with her teacher the Italian soprano Giannina Arangi-Lombardi. After Arangi-Lombardi's death, Gencer continued her studies with the Italian baritone Apollo Granforte. She sang in the chorus of the Turkish State Theater until 1950, when she made her operatic debut in Ankara, as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. During the next few years, she became well known in Turkey and sang frequently at functions for the Turkish government.

Career

In 1953, Gencer made her Italian debut at the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples as Santuzza. She returned to Naples the following year for performances of Madama Butterfly and Eugene Onegin. In 1957, she made her debut at La Scala in Milan as New Prioress in the world premiere of Poulenc's Dialogues of the Carmelites. She went on to appear regularly at La Scala, performing nineteen roles between 1957 and 1983 including Leonora in La forza del destino, Elisabetta in Don Carlos, the title role in Aida, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, the title role in Norma, Ottavia in L'incoronazione di Poppea and Alceste. At La Scala, she also appeared as the First Woman of Canterbury in the world premiere of Pizzetti's L'assassinio nella cattedrale in 1958. In 1960, she toured the USSR, singing concerts in Moscow and Baku.

In 1962, she debuted at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlos and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni. Her United States debut had been at the San Francisco Opera in 1956, as Francesca in Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini. She sang in other American opera houses as well, but never at the Metropolitan Opera, despite discussions about her being engaged to sing Tosca there, also in 1956.

She sang Chopin's Polish songs in Paris with Nikita Magaloff, a Liszt-Bartók concert at La Scala, and a concert involving 'operas about Turks' in the Venetian carnival at La Fenice, showing her innovative character as an opera singer. Her last appearance on the operatic stage was in 1985, with La Prova di un'opera seria at La Fenice. She continued to appear in concerts until 1992. She was still active as of 2007, and had recently been appointed by La Scala's music director Riccardo Muti to run its school for young artists.

Throughout her career, Gencer was particularly well known for her Donizetti, including Belisario, Poliuto, Anna Bolena, Lucrezia Borgia, Maria Stuarda and Caterina Cornaro. Her most acclaimed and best-known performance, though, was the Roberto Devereux she sang in Naples in 1964. Aside from bel canto roles, her repertory included works by such composers as Prokofiev, Mozart and Puccini. She appeared in many rarely performed operas, including Smareglia's La Falena, Rossini's Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra, Spontini's Agnese di Hohenstaufen, Pacini's Saffo and Gluck's Alceste.

Gencer rose to international stardom in a short time, singing under some of the greatest Italian maestros, such as Vittorio Gui, Tullio Serafin, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, and Riccardo Muti. She contributed to the 'Donizetti Renaissance' with her great performances of Donizetti's forgotten operas. Her repertoire consisted of 72 roles, including operas by Monteverdi, Gluck, Mozart, Cherubini, Spontini, Simon Mayr, Puccini, Prokofiev, Britten, Poulenc, Menotti, and Rocca, encompassing lyric, coloratura, and dramatic soprano roles.

Starting in 1982, she dedicated herself to teaching young opera singers. She worked as didactic art director of As.Li.Co. of Milan between 1983–88, and was appointed by Maestro Riccardo Muti to run La Scala's School for Young Artists in 1997-1998. As artistic director of the academy for opera artists in Teatro alla Scala, she specialized in teaching operatic interpretation. In 1996, she appeared in Jan Schmidt-Garre's film Opera Fanatic.

Death

Gencer died on 10 May 2008, aged 79, in Milan. Following her funeral service in San Babila Church and subsequent cremation in Milan, her ashes were brought to Istanbul and scattered in the waters of the Bosphorus on May 16, by famous musician Fazıl Say, according to her wish.

Ten years after her death, in 2018, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts commemorated Leyla Gencer with the 9th edition of the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition and an exhibition titled Primadonna and Solitude.

In 2019, IKSV commissioned a film, Leyla Gencer: La Diva Turca, written by Zeynep Oral, which was screened at the Grimeborn Festival at the Arcola Theatre.

Discography

  • Bellini: Norma/1966, de Fabritiis, Gencer, Cossotto, et al.
  • Bellini: Norma/1965, Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al.
  • Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda 1964/Gui, Gencer, Zanasi, et al.
  • Bellini: I Puritani 1961/Quadri, Gencer, Raimondi, et al.
  • Pacini: Saffo 1967/Gencer, Del Bianco, Mattiucci
  • Cherubini: Medea 1968/ Gencer, Bottion, et al.
  • Mayr: Medea in Corinto 1976/Ferro, Gencer, Johns
  • Gluck: Alceste 1967/ Gui, Gencer, Picchi
  • Chopin: Polish Songs; Liszt/Leyla Gencer, Nikita Magaloff
  • Donizetti: Anna Bolena 1958/ Gavazzeni, Gencer, Simionato, et al.
  • Donizetti: Anna Bolena 1965/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Cava, et al.
  • Donizetti: Caterina Cornaro 1972/Cillario, Gencer, Aragall
  • Donizetti: Les Martyrs/1975 Camozzo, Gencer, Bruson, et al.
  • Donizetti: Les Martyrs/1978 Gelmetti, Gencer, Bruson, et al.
  • Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia/1970 Gracis, Gencer, Raimondi et al.
  • Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia/1966 Franci, Gencer, Aragall, Petri et al.
  • Donizetti: Maria Stuarda/1967 Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Verrett, Tagliavini et al.
  • Donizetti: Messa di Requiem/Gavazzeni, Teatro La Fenice
  • Donizetti: Roberto Devereux 1964/Gencer, Cappuccilli, et al.
  • Donizetti: Belisario 1969/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Taddei et al.
  • Mozart: Don Giovanni 1960/Molinari-Pradelli, Gencer, Petri, Bruscantini, Stich-Randall et al.
  • Mozart: Don Giovanni 1962/Solti, Gencer, Jurinac, Freni
  • Ponchielli: La Gioconda 1971 / de Fabritiis, Gencer, Raimondi
  • Poulenc: Dialogues Des Carmélites 1957/ Nino Sanzogno conductor, Gencer, Virginia Zeani, Gianna Pederzini, et al. (premiere in Italian translation)
  • Zandonai: Francesca da Rimini 1961 / Capuana, Gencer, Cioni, et al.
  • Rossini: Elisabetta, Regina d'Inghilterra 1971/Sanzogno, Gencer, Grilli
  • Verdi: I due Foscari 1957/Serafin, Gencer, Guelfi
  • Verdi: La Battaglia di Legnano 1959/ Gencer, Limarilli
  • Verdi: Rigoletto 1961/Quadri, Gencer, MacNeil, Raimondi
  • Verdi: Gerusalemme 1963/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Aragall, Guelfi
  • Verdi: I Vespri Siciliani 1965/Gavazzeni, Gencer, et al.
  • Verdi: Macbeth 1960/Gui, Gencer, Taddei, Picchi et al.
  • Verdi: Macbeth 1968/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Guelfi, Corradi, et al.
  • Verdi: Attila 1972/Silipigni, Gencer, Hines
  • Verdi: Ernani 1972/Gavazzeni, Gencer, Bergonzi
  • Verdi: Simon Boccanegra 1961/ Gavazzeni, Gobbi, Gencer
  • Verdi: Il Trovatore 1957/Previtali, Gencer, Del Monaco, Barbieri, Bastianini
  • Verdi: Un ballo in maschera 1961/Gencer, Bergonzi
  • Verdi: Aida 1966/ Capuana, Gencer, Bergonzi, Cossotto
  • Verdi: La Forza del Destino 1957/Serafin, Gencer, Di Stefano
  • Verdi: La Forza del Destino 1965/Molinari Pradelli, Gencer, Bergonzi
  • Spontini: La Vestale 1969/Previtali, Gencer, Merolla, Bruson

See also

References

  1. ^ Obituary, Telegraph.co.uk; accessed 29 May 2015.
  2. Bel Canto Society page with Interview and photos Archived 2006-06-21 at the Wayback Machine, belcantosociety.org; accessed 29 May 2015.
  3. ^ Leyla Gencer | Music | The Guardian, Guardian.co.uk; accessed 20 September 2017.
  4. "Ashes of Leyla Gencer scattered across Bosporus". Turkish Daily News. 17 May 2008.
  5. Leyla Gencer: Operatic soprano idolised in Italy, independent.co.uk; accessed 29 May 2015.
  6. Turkish soprano Gencer, who performed at La Scala, dies, denverpost.com; accessed 29 May 2015.
  7. "Leyla Gencer: La Diva Turca info". IMDB. Retrieved 16 October 2019.

External links

Obituaries

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