Leyla Gencer (1928-2008)
Leyla Gencer was one of the greatest opera singers of the 20th century. She became the prima donna of La Scala for 25 years during which she lived in Milan. She was renowned for her marvellous interpretation technique and dedicated herself to uncovering the forgotten opera works which led to the renaissance of Donizetti and Rossini. After her retirement, she worked as the instructor at Teatro alla Scala.
She is known as La Diva Turca in the opera world and Turkey’s greatest gift to the opera world. She passed away in 2008 and wanted her ashes to be spread over the Bosphorus in İstanbul.
Great Diva’s ashes were spread over the Bosphorus on May 16th, 2008
İKSV (İstanbul Culture and Arts Foundation) ‘brought her house’ to İstanbul and created a condensed reconstruction of her home in the İKSV Building in Şişhane and the good news is that it is open to public so if you are in Beyoğlu, make sure to pay a visit to the house of La Diva Turca!
Here are some photos from her home in İstanbul!
Let’s lend an ear to La Diva Turca!
A concert in Leyla Gencer’s memory was held in the oldest Byzantine Church in İstanbul in 2022. Let her rest in peace!
