Ezgi Karakaya (1989)

| Turkey

Mezzo-soprano

Accompanist | Nijolė Baranauskaitė

Ezgi Karakaya was born in 1989. She studied opera at the Anadolu University State Conservatory and graduated in 2010 with first class honours. That same year she started to work for Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Ankara. In 2016 she won first prize in the 9th National Young Soloist Competition (professional category) which is organised in Izmir and received a special prize from one of the members of the jury – stage director Eija Tolpo offered her a chance to join a master class in the Savonlinna Music Academy and to study with Professor Konrad Jarnot. In 2017 Ezgi was selected as BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2017 finalist to represent Turkey. There she attended masterclass studies with worldwide-known American mezzosoprano Grace Bumbry. In June 2018 she was awarded the “Best Young Generation Opera Artist Award” by Semiha Berksoy Foundation Opera Prizes. In September 2018 she won first prize in the International Leyla Gencer Voice Competition and received the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra’s Special Award and the Leyla Gencer Audience Award. In 2019 Ezgi won second prize in the 17th International Marie Kraja Singing Competition in Albania, Tirana. In September 2022 she won first prize in the 21st International Ottavio Ziino Opera Competition in Italy, Rome. She performed the roles of Clarina (La Cambiale di Matrimonio), Volpino (Lo Speziale), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Mercedes (Carmen), Czipra (Der Zigeunerbaron), Bersi (Andrea Chénier), Metella (La Vie Parisienne), Amneris (Aida), Santuzza (Cavalleria Rusticana), Ulrica (Un Ballo in Maschera) in the state opera of Turkey. Ezgi made her European debut in the role of Amneris, with an invitation from the Romanian Iasi National Opera for the production of Aida in February 2020. She is currently still singing with Ankara State Opera house.