Aspendos is located about 40km east of Antalya and
was once an ancient city in Pamphylia, the ancient name of the fertile
land in southern Turkey. Pamphylia was part of the ancient Hittite
empire with Side and Aspendos being the main towns.
Aspendos has a long and varied history and has seen
many different rulers over the years. The city surrendered to the Romans
in 190 BC who later plundered and pillaged its treasures. A decline
began at the end of the Roman period and continued throughout Byzantine
times. Approximately 1km north of Aspendos the remains of a Roman
aqueduct that once supplied water to Aspendos are still visible.
Aspendos is perhaps best known for the best-preserved theatre of
antiquity in Turkey, with a diameter of almost 100m and seating provided
for thousands of people. The amphitheatre was designed by the Greek
architect Zenon and built in the second century during the rule of
Marcus Aurelius.
In keeping with Hellenistic traditions, a small part
of it was built in such a manner that it leaned against the hill where
the Citadel stood. The rest of it was built on domed arches.
In 1930 Ataturk visited the site and instructed the
Aspendos Theatre to be renovated and made fit to use. Today, Aspendos is
generally visited by tourists for its theatre and waterways.
The theatre hosts the annual Aspendos International
Opera and Ballet Festival. In Turkish it is called "Aspendos
Uluslararasi Opera ve Bale Festivali” and has been organized by the
Turkish State Opera and Ballet since 1994 with opera and ballet
companies from all around the world taking part.
Performances today, although modern, give you the
opportunity to soak up the atmosphere and look back in time to what it
was like in Roman times.
The annual festival is held during the months of June
and July. Part of the program for 2011 is shown below:
09 June Thursday 2011
CARMEN - G.Bizet (Opera)
Istanbul State Opera and Ballet
13 June Monday 2011
MEDEA - L.Cherubini (Opera)
Antalya State Opera and Ballet
16 June Thursday 2011
OTELLO - G.Verdi (Opera)
Izmir State Opera and Ballet
20 June Monday 2011
BARBAROSSA - M.Dede (Dance Drama)
Directorates of State Opera and Ballet
21 June Tuesday 2011
VIENNA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Concert
23 June Thursday 2011
DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL - W.A. Mozart (Opera)
Ankara State Opera and Ballet
29 June Wednesday 2011
SWAN LAKE - P.I.Chaykowski (Ballet)
Directorates of State Opera and Ballet
Izmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra
02 July Saturday 2011
TOSCA - G.Puccini (Opera)
Abay Kazakhstan Academic State Opera and Ballet
