APCOM

The Turkish soprano Leyla Gencer, one of the most famous and appreciated opera singers of the second half of the 20th century, died on Saturday at the age of 79 in her Milanese residence. In Milano and at La Scala Theatre she had found her second home. She was born in Istanbul to a Polish Catholic mother and a wealthy Turkish Muslim father. Her public debut took place in Ankara in 1950 with the interpretation of Santuzza in Mascagni's 'Cavalleria Rusticana'.

The first Italian experience occurs three years later, at Napoli's San Carlo Theatre, again playing the role of Santuzza. In 1957 Gencer arrives at Milano as Madame Lidoine in the first night of 'Les dialogues des Carmélites' de Poulenc at La Scala. She appears on the prestigious stage for 15 seasons until 1983 and becomes one of the most representative voices of her time.

"When you sing, you have to feel what you're saying" said Gencer some time ago "I actually cried on stage." She as a diva, an artist gifted with both a superb vocal technique and remarkable interpretative qualities. She was a Donizetian icon (she has played Lucrezia Borgia, Anna Bolena, Caterina Cornaro, just to name a few characters) and she also stood out thanks to the great women portrayed by Verdi (Lady Macbeth, Aida) and Puccini (Madam Butterfly, Turandot).

Between the Fifties and the Sixties the soprano performed all over Europe and in the United States, Argentina and Brazil. She was conducted by the best Italian and foreign directors, from Tullio Serafin to Riccardo Muti, from Herbert von Karajan to Georg Solti. The farewell to the stage dates back to 1985 with 'La prova di un'opera seria' by Francesco Gnecco at Venezia's La Fenice Theatre.