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TEATRO ALLA SCALA 26 June 2007 Final Concert of Accademi di Canto Photo © Teatro alla Scala / MARCO BRESCIA, Milano |
Gencer died on 10 May 2008, age 89, in Milan. Following her funeral service in San Babila Church and subsequent cremation in Milan, her ashes were brought to Istanbul and scattered in the waters of the Bosphorus on May 16, according to her wish.
“MUSIC MUST ALWAYS BE THE
CENTRE, THE REASON OF PEOPLE'S LIVES. YOU MUST LIVE FOR THIS, YOU MUST CREATE,
BE CREATIVE, YOU MUST LOVE NOT ONLY MUSIC, BUT ABOVE ALL, PEOPLE. YOU MUST HAVE
LOVE FOR PEACE TOO.
I HOPE WE WILL HAVE IT, I AM SURE WE WILL HAVE THIS MUCH-DESIRED PEACE OF THE SOUL, PEACE OF ALL OUR AMBITIONS, OF ALL OUR DISCORDS.”
Leyla Gencer, 2004
From the book “The story of a primadonna”
Franca Cella
