Famed soprano Sinead Campbell Wallace delivers stunning performance in Istanbul

Renowned for her captivating vocal clarity, Sinead Campbell Wallace gave her debut performance in Türkiye at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Cemal Resit Rey (CRR) Concert Hall.

According to a statement from CRR, the acclaimed soprano was accompanied by the CRR Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Nil Venditti.

Tribute to violin virtuoso Ayla Erduran

The concert opened with a tribute to violin virtuoso Ayla Erduran, who passed away on Jan. 7. Elif Tarakci, the orchestra’s concertmaster, expressed the ensemble’s condolences at the start of the event, setting a poignant tone for the evening.

Mesmerizing arias, iconic compositions from Sinead Campbell Wallace

The first half of the program commenced with Giacomo Puccini’s Preludio Sinfonico. Campbell Wallace then performed a selection of iconic arias, including Puccini’s Vissi d’Arte (Tosca), Alfredo Catalani’s Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana (La Wally), and Richard Wagner’s Dich, teure Halle (Tannhauser).

The second half showcased Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, a masterpiece that highlighted the orchestra’s virtuosity and captured the audience’s imagination.

Interactive insights from conductor

Conductor Nil Venditti further enriched the experience by sharing insights into the program’s works and composers. These discussions, held in collaboration with ethnomusicologist Evrim Hikmet Ogut, took place before the concert and during the intermission, adding depth to the evening’s performances.

This unforgettable night at CRR Concert Hall marked a significant milestone in Türkiye’s cultural calendar, with Sinead Campbell Wallace’s spellbinding debut leaving a lasting impression on the audience.