The İzmir State Opera and Ballet, or İZDOB, staged Saturday Carl Orff's “Carmina Burana” in Gijon, Spain.

The audience gave a standing ovation to the orchestra and dancers at the end of the three-hour ballet at Gijon's Jovellanos Theater.

İZDOB went to Spain as part of the 2010 Antonio Medio Season, organized by the Gijon Provincial Assembly and Jovellanos Theater. The performance was viewed by a crowded group of people, including Gijon Mayor Paz Fernandez. Spanish art lovers and Turks living in the country showed great interest in the performance, tickets were sold out.

Speaking to press members after the performance, İZDOB Director Aytül Büyüksaraç said: “We are proud of presenting this work in the northern Spanish city of Gijon with a population of 250,000 people. We drew more interest than we expected.”

“Carmina Burana” was conducted by Spanish conductor Tulio Gagliardo Varas and staged by Julian Moss. Aslı Kaynarsu, Kıvanç Ekin, Burcu Olguner, Olcay Tunceli, Banu Dağcıoğlu, Özgür Tuncay and Timur Varlıklı performed the play.

İZDOB staged last Thursday Aşk-ı Memnu (or the Forbidden Love), a Turkish opera in two acts, by Turkish composer Selman Ada.

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