PPOA is a cultural event designed to showcase a wide range of musical artistry in a single evening. This unique opera performance brings together various conductors and singers, allowing the audience to perceive and enjoy the subtle differences between individual artists and observe their mutual communication and interaction with the audience. Additionally, PPOA’s distinctive approach involves multiple singers interpreting the same main or supporting roles, enriching the opera experience, and providing a deeper insight into each performer’s artistic expression.
PPOA offers an opportunity for an in-depth and diverse musical experience that is sure to captivate and delight opera enthusiasts at the highest level.
In 2025, PPOA will present Mozart’s celebrated Opera, “Don Giovanni”. Continuing a series of successfully semi – staged operas such as “La Boheme,” “Le nozze di Figaro,” “Le Barbier de Séville,” “Carmen,” and “La Traviata,” which have attracted over 30,000 visitors. This achievement underscores its impact on popularizing opera among a broad audience.
Each year, the Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy accepts up to 20 singers from around the world to participate in practical training in performing various opera roles under the guidance of Maestro George Pehlivanian and his internationally renowned team of vocal coaches:
– Janez Lotrič, Slovenian tenor ranked among the world’s top tenors; As a regular guest, he sang in Regensburg, Salzburg, Vienna (Staatsoper) and Graz; further guest appearances at La Scala (2000/01, Calaf and Manrico – he was urged NOT to sing the high C in Di quella pira so as not to outdo the Italian tenor who was sharing the role with him), Opéra Bastille, Covent Garden, Bolshoj, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Zürich, Palermo, Rome, Japan, etc.
– Kristin Okerlund, an award-winning pianist and voice coach who has collaborated with Pavarotti, Domingo, Carreras, Bonisolli, Kraus, Gruberova, Zampieri, Raimondi, Bruson, Nucci, etc. Since 1993 Okerlund is employed by the Wiener Staatsoper as répétiteur and in 1992 she received a teaching position and from 2000 her own chorus repetition class at the Vienna Conservatory.
– Caner Akgün, is currently the Artistic Director of the Ensemble of Istanbul State Opera and Balle. And has sung in many Opera Productions himself as a Bariton in many Opera Houses. His favorite roles include, Rigoletto in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Giorgio Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata, Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff, Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca, Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen, Marcello in La Boheme by Puccini, Figaro in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. PPOA is very pleased to have Mr. Akgünd sing as well the role of Don Giovanni in some Of the concerts on tour with PPOA IN 2025!
– Dilruba Bilgi, is a Soprano Soloist of the Istanbul State Opera. She She performed the roles of: Marguerite in Gounod ‘Faust’, Micaela in Bizet ‘Carmen’, Anna in Rossini ‘Maometto Secondo Violetta in Verdi ‘La Traviata Nannetta in Verdi ‘Falstaff Amina in V.Bellini ‘La Sonnambula Olympia in J.Offenbach ‘Les Contes d’Hoffmann and many more. We are also Happy to have Mrs. Bilgi on tour with us in the summer of 2025!
This initiative allows singers to gain valuable international experience. Maestro Pehlivanian, along with his expert team, provides individualized mentorship to each participant, ensuring a comprehensive and profound learning experience in the world of opera.
