Süreyya Opera House
Encyclopedia
Süreyya Opera House, also called Süreyya Cultural Center , is an opera hall
located in Kadıköy
district of Istanbul
, Turkey
. The building is designed by architect Kegam Kavafyan by order of a Deputy for Istanbul Süreyya İlmen, it was originally established in 1927 as the first musical theatre
on the Anatolia
n part of Istanbul. However, due to lack of appropriate facilities and equipment in the theatre, operetta
s were never staged. The venue was rather used as a movie theatre until the building underwent a functional restoration and reopened as an opera house
by the end of 2007.
during his visits. The aesthetic and functional influences at the architectural design of the building are reflected in the foyer, an example of Art Deco
inspired from the Champs-Elysées Theatre
in Paris
, and in the interior, which shows styles of German architecture. Called "Süreyya Opereti" (Süreyya Operetta) and opened on March 6, 1927, the theater was the first of its art in the Asian part of Istanbul and the sixth in the entire city.
Since the stage of the musical theatre was not wholly completed and no artist's rooms were provided, operetta performances did not take place at all. Only theatre play
s were performed some days a week. In 1930, technical equipment needed to screen sound film
s was installed and henceforth the venue was renamed "Süreyya Sineması" (Süreyya Cinema). Hikmet Nazım, father of the renowned poet Nazım Hikmet
, was appointed the movie theatre's first manager.
The ballroom
at the second floor served for many years as a wedding hall. It hosted the theater group "Kadıköy Sahnesi" (Kadıköy Stage) five years long from 1959 on. Later, the space was used as an apparel workshop.
Süreyya İlmen donated the theatre in 1950 to "Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti
", a charitable organization
for the advancement of education of orphan children in poverty, with the condition to receive the revenues during his or his wife's lifetime. He died in 1955 and his wife Adalet İlmen in 1966. The cinema, taken over by the charity society, was then run first by the daughter and then by the grandsons of Süreyya İlmen.
The audience hall of Süreyya Cinema was renovated in 1996, and the technical equipments were modernized with state of the art in 2003. Also the exterior of the building underwent a reconditioning in accordance with the original. However, all these efforts and the investments made for modernization did not bring the expected result to attract audience.
project after leasing the building in August 2005 from Darüşşafaka Association for a term of 40 years. The restoration included the fresco
s at the ceiling and on the walls, and the sculptures on the facade
. The construction works lasted almost two years and the cost amounted to around 14 million YTL (approx. $9m).
Süreyya Opera House reopened on December 14, 2007 performing the oratorio
Yunus Emre
(Opus 26) by Ahmet Adnan Saygun
. Thus, Süreyya Pasha's dream of an opera house came true after 80 years.
The theatre stage
has dimensions of 14 m width, 10 m depth and 4.90 m height with an orchestra pit
added newly. There are 14 dressing rooms built without changing the architecture of the building. The audience capacity of the opera house is 570 seats. The ballroom on the second floor can accommodate 500 guests.
The opera house is home to Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Opera
and ballet
performances are staged three days a week at the venue. The house hosts also events like arts exhibitions and festivities like the Republic Day
Ball.
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
located in Kadıköy
Kadiköy
Kadıköy is a large, populous, and cosmopolitan district of İstanbul, Turkey on the Asian side of the Sea of Marmara, facing the historic city centre on the European side of the Bosporus...
district of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The building is designed by architect Kegam Kavafyan by order of a Deputy for Istanbul Süreyya İlmen, it was originally established in 1927 as the first musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
on the Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
n part of Istanbul. However, due to lack of appropriate facilities and equipment in the theatre, operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
s were never staged. The venue was rather used as a movie theatre until the building underwent a functional restoration and reopened as an opera house
Opera house
An opera house is a theatre building used for opera performances that consists of a stage, an orchestra pit, audience seating, and backstage facilities for costumes and set building...
by the end of 2007.
History
Süreyya Pasha started the construction of the building in 1924 to meet the need of a venue for cultural and social events lacking in Kadıköy. He was impressed by the glamour of famous theatres in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
during his visits. The aesthetic and functional influences at the architectural design of the building are reflected in the foyer, an example of Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
inspired from the Champs-Elysées Theatre
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and in the interior, which shows styles of German architecture. Called "Süreyya Opereti" (Süreyya Operetta) and opened on March 6, 1927, the theater was the first of its art in the Asian part of Istanbul and the sixth in the entire city.
Since the stage of the musical theatre was not wholly completed and no artist's rooms were provided, operetta performances did not take place at all. Only theatre play
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
s were performed some days a week. In 1930, technical equipment needed to screen sound film
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
s was installed and henceforth the venue was renamed "Süreyya Sineması" (Süreyya Cinema). Hikmet Nazım, father of the renowned poet Nazım Hikmet
Nazim Hikmet
Nâzım Hikmet Ran , commonly known as Nâzım Hikmet , was a Turkish poet, playwright, novelist and memoirist. He was acclaimed for the "lyrical flow of his statements"...
, was appointed the movie theatre's first manager.
The ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
at the second floor served for many years as a wedding hall. It hosted the theater group "Kadıköy Sahnesi" (Kadıköy Stage) five years long from 1959 on. Later, the space was used as an apparel workshop.
Süreyya İlmen donated the theatre in 1950 to "Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti
Darüssafaka Association
The Darüşşafaka Association is an educational association originally founded to train apprentices. It is one of the oldest associations in Turkey, founded in 1863.-History:...
", a charitable organization
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
for the advancement of education of orphan children in poverty, with the condition to receive the revenues during his or his wife's lifetime. He died in 1955 and his wife Adalet İlmen in 1966. The cinema, taken over by the charity society, was then run first by the daughter and then by the grandsons of Süreyya İlmen.
The audience hall of Süreyya Cinema was renovated in 1996, and the technical equipments were modernized with state of the art in 2003. Also the exterior of the building underwent a reconditioning in accordance with the original. However, all these efforts and the investments made for modernization did not bring the expected result to attract audience.
Redevelopment
By the beginning of 2006, Kadıköy Municipality under Mayor Selami Öztürk launched a redevelopmentRedevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...
project after leasing the building in August 2005 from Darüşşafaka Association for a term of 40 years. The restoration included the fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
s at the ceiling and on the walls, and the sculptures on the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
. The construction works lasted almost two years and the cost amounted to around 14 million YTL (approx. $9m).
Süreyya Opera House reopened on December 14, 2007 performing the oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
Yunus Emre
Yunus Emre
Yunus Emre was a Turkish poet and Sufi mystic. He has exercised immense influence on Turkish literature, from his own day until the present...
(Opus 26) by Ahmet Adnan Saygun
Ahmet Adnan Saygun
Ahmed Adnan Saygun was a Turkish composer, musicologist and writer on music. Ahmed Adnan Saygun is acknowledged as one of the most important 20th century composers in Turkish music history....
. Thus, Süreyya Pasha's dream of an opera house came true after 80 years.
The theatre stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
has dimensions of 14 m width, 10 m depth and 4.90 m height with an orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
added newly. There are 14 dressing rooms built without changing the architecture of the building. The audience capacity of the opera house is 570 seats. The ballroom on the second floor can accommodate 500 guests.
The opera house is home to Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
performances are staged three days a week at the venue. The house hosts also events like arts exhibitions and festivities like the Republic Day
Republic Day (Turkey)
The Republic Day of Turkey is one of the public holidays in Turkey, commemorating the proclamation of the republic in 1923. It lasts 35 hours, starting at 1:00 pm on October 28....
Ball.