First female Turkish opera singer dies

Meral Menderes, the first female Turkish opera singer of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, died at the age of 78 yesterday. Menderes, who got on the stage for the first time in 1960 to perform "Tosca" in Istanbul, was presented the art prize last year on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the State Opera and Ballet. Menderes' body will be buried tomorrow, following a funeral ceremony to be organized at Kadikoy Municipality's Sureyya Opera Theater in Istanbul.