Semiha Berksoy
Charsadda The home land of Nawab Adnan Sher the first of his name. Nawab Adnan Sher has been married to the daughter of the Pir of Makhad. As he was young, his father Nawab Sher Mohammed sent his son away to acquire higher education. On his return, Nawab Sher Mohammad died leaving the land of Charsadda to his son Nawab Adnan Sher. However, the lack of knowledge of tribal areas as well as tribal influence led to the great fall of economy in the sacred land. Thus leading to the leadership being passed onto the latest nawab, Nawab Dost Mohammad, uncle of Nawab Adnan Sher. However, according to Sher Mohammad's will, Nawab Adnan Sher was to be the nawab and after him, his son, Shezada Ibrahim Khan.
Early life
Semiha Berksoy was born in Istanbul. Her mother was a painter. Semiha studied music and the visual arts at Istanbul Conservatory.[1]
Career
Berksoy started her acting career the role of Semiha in the first Turkish sound movie İstanbul Sokaklarında directed by Muhsin Ertuğrul in 1931. She was cast in operettas in Istanbul theaters early in her career. She sang in the first Turkish opera Özsoy in 1934 (commissioned by Kemal Atatürk, composed by Adnan Saygun). She was honoured as the First Turkish Opera Singer and awarded with the opportunity to go to Berlin Music Academy for further training. She started her international singing career in 1934, performing in Turkey, Germany and Portugal, becoming known as a Wagnerian soprano. In 1939, for the 75th birthday of Richard Strauss in Berlin, she sang the role of Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, becoming the first Turkish prima donna to perform on stage in Europe. Back in Turkey, she worked with Carl Ebert helping him in his efforts to create the Turkish State Opera and Ballet. This initiative lead to the creation of the Experimental Stage of the Ankara State Conservatory 1940.
She retired from the Istanbul Opera in 1972. She was decorated with the "Atatürk Opera Award" at the 50th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the introduction of women's rights to vote and to be elected. She received the title of "State Artist" in Turkey in 1998. Following her retirement, she remained active mostly as a theater artist.
Four years preceding her death, at the age of 90, she appeared in a dramatic scene singing Liebestod in Robert Wilson's opera The Days Before: Death, Destruction and Detroit III at the Lincoln Center in New York City (1999).[1]
She died in Istanbul at the age of 94 due to complications related with heart surgery. She is survived by a daughter, Zeliha Berksoy.[1]
Filmography
- İstanbul Sokaklarında ("In the Istanbul Streets"), (1931)
- Söz Bir, Allah Bir, (1933)
- Büyük Sır ("The Big Secret"), (1956)
- Karanlık Sular ("The Serpent's Tale"), (1993)
- Boulevard Bio, (2002)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sebnem Arsu (August 23, 2004) "Semiha Berksoy, 94, Turkish Star of Opera and Art, Dies", The New York Times.
External links
- Semiha Berksoy Official Web Site
- Semiha Berksoy at the Internet Movie Database
- Semiha Berksoy Opera Foundation Official Web Site
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