Izmir fest to unroll 27th edition with concert dedicated to Verdi, Wagner

The 27th edition of the Izmir International Festival will officially open on June 6 with a concert to be performed by the soloists, orchestra and choir of the Izmir State Opera and Ballet (IZDOB) at the ancient theater in Ephesus. Devoted to musical events, this year's festival will be held under the main theme “festival duslerin sahnesidir” (a festival is the scene of dreams) from June 6 to 16 in various venues across the Aegean province, including the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center in Izmir's Guzelyalı neighborhood and the historic Red Basilica in Bergama. The festival's gala concert will feature pieces by Verdi and Wagner, whose 200th birthdays are being celebrated around the world at various events, the Anatolia news agency reported, citing a written statement issued by the Izmir Foundation for Culture, Arts and Education (IKSEV). The general musical director of İZDOB, Tulio Gagliardo, will conduct the orchestra, while conductor-pianist Hans-Joachim Gallus will lead the choir. The festival will wrap up on June 16 with a concert by the Apollon Musagete Quartet at the Library of Celsus in Ephesus. Tickets for the festival are available from biletix and IKSEV's ticket offices.