Famous Turk tenor heralded in France

Famous Turkish tenor Bülent Bezdüz, who went to France nearly two months ago by invitation, performed in three presentations last month of the opera “La Favorita.” He was praised by the audience and seen by many as an heir to Pavarotti's throne

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agenc

World-renowned member of the Mersin State Opera and Ballet and Grammy award-winning Turkish tenor Bülent Bezdüz was praised by the French for his recent successful performance in the opera �La Favorita� in Paris.

Bezdüz, who went to France nearly two months ago by invitation from and with the approval of French State Opera and Ballet General Manager Rengim Gökmen, performed in three presentations last month of �La Favorita� opera at Orchester National de Montpellier. Playing the leading role of Fernando in �La Favorita,� which is a grand opera in four acts by the Gaetano Opera, Bezdüz was loved by the audience. His success was also note in many French dailies, and he was praised by critics. He was described by many as one of the best voices in the worlds.

Bezdüz returned to Turkey, to the Mediterranean city of Mersin, after finishing his tour. Expressing his pleasure over the fact that Europe has recognized a Turkish artist, Bezdüz said, �It made me very happy to be on stage in France. It revealed the success of Turkish artists that the French applauded and congratulated me.�

Bezdüz has also been invited by operas in many countries, including England and Belgium, as well as France. He will perform the character Alfredo in Verdi's �La Traviata� in Vienna's Volksoper Wien opera house in September. The other performances he will present are �La boheme� in the role of Rodolfo at Sweden's Göteborg Opera in November, and Ermione Pilade at the English Opera Rara in March 2009. He will also perform in �Falstaff� as Fenton at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, again in 2009, and in �Maria Stuarda� as Leicester at the Minnesota Opera in 2010.

'Heir to Pavarotti'

Bezdüz, who is seen as an heir to the famous tenor Luciano Pavarotti who died last year, graduated from Gazi University's Department of Music and started his vocal studies with Polish tenor Roman Werlinski. He made his debut there as Alfredo in Verdi's �La Traviata.�

In 1997 he attended the European Opera Center in Manchester and made his European debut in Mozart´s �Lucio Silla,� which went on tour in England, Ireland and Denmark.

Since then, Bezdüz has performed in London, Dublin, Amsterdam, Cologne, Marseille, Rennes, Nancy, Lausanne, at the Teatro Regio di Parma and Teatro Regio di Torino, in Portland, Oregon, at the Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, with the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto, with the Istanbul State Opera, and in several other cities in Europe.

His repertoire includes Fenton in Verdi's �Falstaff� and Hellenus in Berlioz's �Les Troyens,� both of which he recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sir Colin Davis. He has also played Ottavio in Mozart's �Don Giovanni,� Rodolfo in �La Bohème� and the title role in Gounod's �Faust.� He is ideally suited to the operas of Donizetti and has sung the following roles: Alamiro in �Belisario,� Gennaro in �Lucrezia Borgia,� Leicester in �Maria Stuarda,� the title role in �Roberto Devereux,� Nemorino in �L'elisir d'amore� and Edgardo in �Lucia di Lammermoor.�

Inform,July 2008