The exact year of Leyla
Gencer’s birth has always been a mystery. She was born in Istanbul. Based on
various records; her year of birth might be 1918, 1924 or according to her she was born 1928. Being an Italian High School graduate, the artist started her vocal training at the
Istanbul Municipal Conservatory. Subsequently she went to Ankara where she had
the opportunity to study with the famous Italian soprano Giannina
Arangi-Lombardi and Apollo Granforte.
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| Giannina Arangi-Lombardi |
Gencer differs from the
sopranos who just sing on the stage. Besides her singing capacity, she also had
the acting potential to fulfill the requirements of her roles. Thanks to the
combination of her acting talent, voice and interpretation; Gencer achieved the
acting singer title which had
associated with Maria Callas in the 20th
century.
During her career, Gencer sang 74 different operas and 4 choral works at 66 different opera houses in 200 different productions. She gave 86 recitals and 41 concerts and appeared on the stage approximately 600 times. The majority of these performances were of 15 operas which she sang very often. Gencer performed (approximately) Norma 35 times, Macbeth 34 times, Aida and Don Carlos 27 times, La Traviata 25 times, Madama Butterfly 21 times, Tosca, Il Trovatore 18 times, Alceste, La Gioconda, La forza del destino, Anna Bolena 15 times, Un ballo in maschera, Simon Boccanegra 12 times and Lucrezia Borgia 10 times. Unfortunately it’s not been possible to define the exact number of her performances since among all opera houses La Scala was the only one to register the further dates of performances after the premieres.
During her career, Gencer sang 74 different operas and 4 choral works at 66 different opera houses in 200 different productions. She gave 86 recitals and 41 concerts and appeared on the stage approximately 600 times. The majority of these performances were of 15 operas which she sang very often. Gencer performed (approximately) Norma 35 times, Macbeth 34 times, Aida and Don Carlos 27 times, La Traviata 25 times, Madama Butterfly 21 times, Tosca, Il Trovatore 18 times, Alceste, La Gioconda, La forza del destino, Anna Bolena 15 times, Un ballo in maschera, Simon Boccanegra 12 times and Lucrezia Borgia 10 times. Unfortunately it’s not been possible to define the exact number of her performances since among all opera houses La Scala was the only one to register the further dates of performances after the premieres.
Being 20th century’s one of
the most unique divas and having a major importance in the opera history, Leyla
Gencer sang 74 operas at 66 different opera houses. Not only she was one
of the most active artists of her time, she was also renowned for reviving
long-neglected operas and making major contributions to today’s opera
repertoire. Her interpretations so called “Gencerate” are appreciated even
more today than they were at the time. During her career, except for a few
roles, Gencer sang only the roles that she loved and wanted to sing which she
always interpreted in her own way. There were two people whose art she trusted
and respected; Tullio Serafin and
Gianandrea Gavazzeni. On all occasions
Gencer fulfilled the requests of these two great conductors of the Italian
opera and executed them on the stage unconditionally. Gencer often had
arguments with opera conductors and directors regarding her stage performances
and was sidelined by many directors because of her attitude. During the
rehearsals of her first production at La Scala in the opera Dialoghi delle Carmelitane, she had arguments with the director Margherita
Wallmann and the composer Françis
Poulenc. Such arguments might have led
to the cancellation of the production but in the end she won. Although her
Mozart interpretations were not fully appreciated by the critics in the 60’s,
Gencer’s new approach to Mozart’s Italian operas are
today considered among the best Mozart
interpretations. And her “noble” way of
interpreting Leonora in Il Trovatore is considered one of the
best Il Trovatore interpretations.
