About

 

Recep Ayyılmaz

RECEP AYYILMAZ was born in Istanbul. He began his artistic career at children’s radio theatre. He completed his studies of drama at Istanbul University, State Conservatory; higher musical education at Istanbul Technical University, State Conservatory. He concluded his second higher education at Sorbonne University in Paris and at Istanbul University, Faculty of Literature and Social Sciences in French Philology.

He worked at City and State Theatres as an actor. He wrote articles concerning culture and art on some magazines and daily newspapers, and also made translations such as Wozzeck, Orphée et Eurydice, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Don Quixote, Pelléas et Mélisande, Faust, Pages 27, Molière où les enfants de la famille. Then, he joined Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. He also worked as an assistant to the director for 48 productions with Giancarlo del MONACO, Marek GRESITSKI, Michael HEINICKE, Beppe de TOMASI, Giampaolo ZENNARO, Dmitry BERTMAN, Gunter ROTH, Jules WRIGHT and Vincenzo Grisostomi TRAVAGLINI. With the support of Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey and Embassy of France, he took a training program at Paris National Opera and participated in Robert WILSON’s and Willy DECKER’s productions as a trainee director. And he participated in the repetitions of directors such as Yannis KOKKOS, Francesca ZAMBELLO, Jerome SAVARY, Robert CARSEN, Jonathan MILLER, Dominique PITOISET with conductors such as James CONLON, Paolo CARIGNANI, Mark ELDER, Maurizio BENINI, Friedemann LAYER, Bruno CAMPANELLA and George MANAHAN.

He was accepted to École internationale de théâtre and L’Atelier Théâtre d'Aujourd'hui in France. He currently lectures on History of Classical Music & Theatre and Art of Staging. His production Troya was staged at Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow in 2019 within the frame of Turkey-Russia Reciprocal Year of Culture and Tourism.

In the 2021/2022 art season, he represented Turkey in the international grand final jury of the 5th international young director competition “Nano Opera” organized by “Helikon State Opera” in Moskow.

Some productions he has staged are: Orphée et Eurydice, Don Pasquale, The Abduction from the Seraglio, Faust, La Traviata, Die Csárdásfürstin, The Magic Flute, Macbeth, Don Quixote, Carmen, Troya, La serva padrona and Il barbiere di Siviglia.

AWARDS:

  • Best Director of the Year / Lions Clubs International Foundation (2013)
  • Best Director of the Year / Lions Clubs International Foundation (2014)
  • Best Director of the Year / Lions Clubs International Foundation (2015)
  • Best Director of the Year / Semiha Berksoy Awards (2018)
  • Best Director of the Year / Lions Çırağan (2019)
  • Best Production, Troya / İsmet Küntay Awards (2018-2019)