May 10, 2018 is the 10th anniversary of Leyla Gencer's death. Leaving her mark on the history of opera as "La Diva Turca," Gencer will be commemorated in a concert organized by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BİFO) on Thursday, May 17 at Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar ICEC.

Paying its respect to Leyla Gencer with its seasonal programs every year, this concert full of the masterpieces by Giacomo Puccini and Gaetano Donizetti will welcome young artists of the BİFO and participants from the Academy BİFO.

Having hosted "Tosca," "Aida," "La Traviata," "Norma," "Salome" and "The Knight of the Rose," operas associated with Gencer's extraordinary career in Turkey, the BİFO will welcome the works of Puccini and Donizetti this time on stage. The first performance of the concert will be Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and the second will feature excerpts from the Donizetti's "Anna Bolena," "Maria Stuard" and "Roberto Devereux."

Academy BİFO participants - a group founded under the umbrella of Borusan Sanat and working at full speed for the past two seasons - will perform "Gianni Schicchi" for the "In Commemoration of Leyla Gencer: Donizetti and Puccini" concert. This performance has been meticulously planned to honor Gencer's memory, a musician who always valued the importance of training young artists.

"Anna Bolena," "Maria Stuard" and "Roberto Devereux" operas by Donizetti, also associated with Leyla Gencer, will be performed by talented artists currently working in operas around the world and who had the chance to work with Gencer.

Vocalists of the night include the finalist of the 4th Leyla Gencer competition, Aida Award winner and the holder of a Suna Korad Special Prize presented by the Semiha Berksoy Foundation, Simge Büyükedes; the winner of the Leyla Gencer Grand Prix organized by the Academie Disque du Lyrique and applauded at Ferrara for her leading role in Gluck's "Alceste" last season, Asude Karayavuz; Çiğdem Soyarslan, who continues her success with her work in Montpellier, Linz, Vienna and many other cities in Europe; and Burcu Uyar, who is gaining more success each year with her strong voice along with her accomplishments in Leipzig, Brussels and Rome. These young vocalists will gather for the event in Turkey under the baton of Yekta Kara, along with the Academy BİFO.