Uzbek Art to Shine at 32nd Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  From 14 September to 1 October, the ancient Aspendos Theater in Turkey will host the 32nd International Opera and Ballet Festival.

Among the participants are Italian tenor Riccardo Massi and Russian soprano Olga Maslova, performing on a stage where audiences once gathered over two thousand years ago during the Roman Empire. The festival transforms this remarkably preserved amphitheater into a world-class cultural space, where contemporary opera harmonizes with the historical grandeur of the venue.

The festival offers a unique opportunity to enjoy works such as Puccini’s Turandot and Verdi’s La Traviata in a hall with extraordinary acoustics, where sound reaches the upper tiers without amplification.

The festival opens on 14 September with Turandot, featuring international stars Riccardo Massi and Olga Maslova. The performance is staged by the State Opera and Ballet Theaters of Ankara and Antalya, promising a spectacular vocal show while continuing the tradition of this historic stage dating back to the Roman era.

On 27 September, tenor Ivan Magri will perform the lead role in Puccini’s Tosca, showcasing international-level artistry. The festival will conclude on October 1 with the State Academic Bolshoi Theater of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi presenting Verdi’s La Traviata, marking a rare example of international collaboration on this historic stage.

The festival also features ballet performances: on 17 September, Zorba to the music of Mikis Theodorakis will be presented; on 20 September, a new interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake by choreographer Ricardo Amarante; and on 24 September, Don Quixote, celebrating Spanish culture and the legendary hero of Cervantes.

Built in the 2nd century AD, the Aspendos Theater is the best-preserved Roman theater in Turkey and one of the outstanding examples of Roman architecture worldwide. Since 2003, the festival has been an honorary member of the European Festivals Association, attracting opera and ballet enthusiasts from Europe and beyond.

The amphitheater’s design naturally amplifies sound for up to 15,000 spectators, making Aspendos an ancient engineering marvel and providing a unique acoustic experience for performers and audiences alike.

The festival unites the grandeur of ancient architecture with contemporary performing arts, offering an unparalleled cultural experience for an international audience.