To Center on Mevlana

Staff report, "'The Call' of Mevlana echoes on ballet stage" - Today's Zaman - Istanbul, Turkey
Friday, March 21, 2008

The Mersin State Opera and Ballet's newest production, "Çağrı" (The Call), a balletic take on the life story of Sufi saint and poet Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, premiered on Thursday night.

The score for the single-act ballet was composed by symphonic new age composer Can Atilla, who also wrote the music for "Mevlana Oratorio."

The oratorio had its world premiere in İstanbul last April, marking the 800th anniversary of the birth of the 13th century Sufi saint who advocated tolerance and peace through his philosophy.

"Çağrı," featuring a libretto by journalist-art critic Şefik Kahramankaptan, marks a first for Turkish ballet as it is "the first-ever original Turkish ballet to center on Mevlana in its entirety," Atilla told reporters ahead of the premiere in the Mediterranean province of Mersin.

The score of the ballet combines local and universal musical structures, also taking inspiration from 19th century Romantic ballet patterns.

"I composed around 25 themes for each character and event [depicted in the ballet]. … I also employed atonal and electronic music in some parts to be able to reflect avant-garde and abstract atmospheres," Atilla explained.

A CD featuring the ballet score is due to be released soon, he added, noting that there are also plans to stage the ballet abroad.

The world premiere of "Çağrı" -- directed by Lale Balkan and featuring choreography by Mehmet Balkan -- will be followed by a gala performance on March 27, while its third staging is scheduled for April 24.

[See the Ballet's web page (in Turkish) https://secure.dobgm.gov.tr/ESER/eser0445.htm
Go to the State Opera and Ballet webpage (in English) https://secure.dobgm.gov.tr/dobgm_en.asp]