Carmen meets its paintings

The Dream Melodies Painting Competition, held in collaboration with the Foundation for Empowering Young Talents (EMART) and Anadolu University Faculty of Fine Arts, took place for the third time this year. In previous years, the operas Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin" were chosen as the subjects.

The theme of this year's competition was the classic opera Carmen by French composer Georges Bizet. Carmen's dramatic story, powerful characters, and emotional depth were transformed into works of painting art through applications created by young artists using various mediums. The works selected from nearly 100 applications showcased both the technical mastery and the unique perspectives of students receiving art education.

We Are the Country Where Young People Are Most Interested in Opera

Pointing out that a classic and world-renowned opera like Carmen is being presented to art lovers through the perspectives of young artists, Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Artistic Director and Manager Caner Akgün said, "As the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, we care about young people and use staging techniques that will attract their interest. For this reason, we are one of the countries where young people show the most interest in opera. We are very happy to host this profound exhibition, which makes young artists in various cities of Turkey visible and increases awareness of opera, simultaneously with the staging of Carmen."

An Interdisciplinary Project

Expressing his satisfaction with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet's support for students receiving art education, Foundation for Empowering Young Talents President Serkan Şahin said, "Dream Melodies, which we are holding for the third time, is an interdisciplinary project that brings together music and plastic arts. It focuses on the meeting of classical music and opera with students receiving art education. While doing this, it becomes a breath of fresh air and brings excitement to the university it partners with and to art students in various cities of Turkey. It encourages non-governmental organizations and private sector representatives to share in this excitement. Finally, it completes its function by meeting with the audience, making the students visible, and approaching the goal of increasing art participation. We thank Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Artistic Director and Manager Caner Akgün for the opportunity he has given to art students who draw inspiration from opera in their productions."

Carmen-Themed Works from 40 Different Universities

The 3rd Dream Melodies Painting Competition was organized in partnership with Eskişehir Anadolu University as a painting competition open to the participation of students continuing their undergraduate or graduate education in art education departments and painting departments of education faculties at universities in Turkey. Participants were asked to transform G. Bizet's Carmen opera itself, or any part, song, or melody within the opera, into a pictorial expression.

The competition's Selection Committee consisted of Baksı Museum and Baksı Foundation founder Prof. Dr. Hüsamettin Koçan, ITU Fine Arts Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Oğuz Haşlakoğlu, Anadolu University Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Prof. Dr. Rahmi Atalay, Yeditepe University Faculty of Fine Arts Dean Prof. Gülveli Kaya, and EMART Foundation for Empowering Young Talents Founding President Serkan Şahin.

94 students from 40 different universities participated in the competition. While 3 works were deemed worthy of awards, a total of 30 works were considered worthy of exhibition.

Among the owners of the works deemed worthy of exhibition are names such as Adil Öksüz, Ahmet Hakan Akkuş, Barış Erdoğan, Behnaz Ebrahimi, Beren Naz Dede, Beyza Kırtıl, Beyzanur Soyer, Burak Uyanmaz, Buse Karakoyun, Cemil Arslan, Cemile Çolak, Emincan Kale, Fatma İlknur Yıldırım, Feyza Akbaş, Hamit İzmir, İclal Betül Cebeci, İclal Şimşek, İnanç Kayra Akyıldız, İrem Karagöz Terzi, İrem Pekşen, Kenan Filiz, Mavi Melike Çatkın, Muhammed Ergün Çiçek, Pınar Özpınar, Rabia Hazar, Sena Takeş, Sibel Uslu, Sultan Tayfur, Yusuf Peçe, and Zeynep Dua Alkan.

Carmen Both on Stage and on Canvas

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet (İDOB) will stage the "Carmen" opera at the Atatürk Cultural Center (AKM) on April 10, 12, 17, 24, 26, and 30. In the production, where valuable opera artists will take the stage, the April 10 and 12 performances will be conducted by experienced conductor George Pehlivanian. Pehlivanian, who has conducted operas, philharmonic, and symphony orchestras all over the world from Europe to the Far East, and from America to Australia, is described as one of the leading conductors of his generation. İbrahim Yazıcı will take over the management of the İDOB Orchestra in the other performances of the work, which is staged by Italian director Vincenzo Grisostomi Travaglini.

The exhibition can be viewed in the lower foyer during the performances of the Carmen Opera, which will be staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall between April 10 and 30, 2025.

News Source: 12punto