Semiha Berksoy facts for kids

Semiha Berksoy (born May 24, 1910 – died August 15, 2004) was a famous Turkish opera singer and talented painter. She made history as the first Turkish opera singer to perform on a European stage.

Early Life and Learning

Semiha Berksoy was born in Çengelköy, a neighborhood in Istanbul. Her mother was also a painter, which might have inspired Semiha. She studied both music and visual arts at the Istanbul Conservatory. This school helped her develop her many talents.

A Star on Stage

Semiha Berksoy began her acting career in 1931. She starred in İstanbul Sokaklarında (In the Streets of Istanbul), which was the first Turkish movie with sound. Early in her career, she also performed in operettas, which are like light operas, in Istanbul theaters.

First Turkish Opera Singer

In 1934, Semiha sang in Özsoy, the very first Turkish opera. This opera was specially asked for by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. Because of her amazing talent, she was honored as the First Turkish Opera Singer. She even got to go to the Berlin Music Academy for more training.

Singing Around the World

Semiha Berksoy started her international singing career in 1934. She performed in Turkey, Germany, and Portugal. She became known as a Wagnerian soprano. This means she was a female singer with a high voice who specialized in the operas of Richard Wagner.

In 1939, she made history again. She sang the role of Ariadne in the opera Ariadne auf Naxos in Berlin. This made her the first Turkish prima donna (a leading female opera singer) to perform on a European stage.

Building Turkish Opera

When she returned to Turkey, Semiha worked with Carl Ebert. He was helping to create the Turkish State Opera and Ballet. Her efforts helped lead to the start of the Experimental Stage of the Ankara State Conservatory in 1940. This was a big step for opera in Turkey.

Later Years and Honors

Semiha Berksoy retired from the Istanbul Opera in 1972. Even after retiring, she remained active, especially in theater.

She received many awards for her contributions. She was given the "Atatürk Opera Award" in 1985. In 1998, she earned the title of "State Artist" in Turkey.

Four years before she passed away, at the age of 90, she performed one last time. She sang in an opera called The Days Before: Death, Destruction and Detroit III in New York City in 1999.

Semiha Berksoy passed away in Istanbul in 2004 at the age of 94. She had complications from heart surgery. She is remembered as a pioneering artist.

Special Tributes

On May 24, 2019, which would have been Semiha Berksoy’s 109th birthday, she was honored with a Google Doodle. This is a special, temporary change to the Google logo that celebrates holidays, events, achievements, and historical figures.

Movies She Appeared In

• İstanbul Sokaklarında ("In the Streets of Istanbul"), (1931)
• Söz Bir, Allah Bir, (1933)
• Büyük Sır ("The Big Secret"), (1956)
• Karanlık Sular ("The Serpent's Tale"), (1993)
• Boulevard Bio, (2002)

See also

• Turkish State Opera and Ballet