Süreyya Opera House

Süreyya Opera House, also known as Süreyya Operası or Süreyya Cultural Center, is a historic theatre and performing-arts venue in the Bahariye quarter of Kadıköy on the Asian side of Istanbul. It was commissioned by Süreyya İlmen, an Istanbul deputy and cultural patron who wanted Kadıköy to have a substantial venue for theatrical, musical, and social events. Designed by the Ottoman Armenian architect Kegham Kavafyan, the building opened on March 6, 1927, as Süreyya Operetta. It was the first purpose-built opera-oriented venue on the Asian side of Istanbul and was described as the city's sixth venue of this kind at the time. The building combines several European architectural influences. Its foyer reflects an Art Deco vocabulary associated with the Champs-Elysées Theatre in Paris, while the auditorium and other interiors show German stylistic influence. Despite its name and original purpose, the venue could not initially stage operettas because the stage was incomplete and the building lacked suitable performers' rooms and technical infrastructure. Theatre productions were presented intermittently instead. In 1930, sound-film projection equipment was installed, and the institution became Süreyya Cinema. For much of the twentieth century, cinema rather than opera was its principal public function. The premises also supported a range of community and commercial uses. The second-floor ballroom operated for many years as a wedding hall and hosted the Kadıköy Stage theatre group for five years from 1959. It was later used as an apparel workshop. In 1950, İlmen donated the theatre to Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti, a charitable organization associated with the education of children without adequate family support. The donation allowed İlmen and his wife, Adalet İlmen, to receive the revenues during their lifetimes. After İlmen's death in 1955 and Adalet İlmen's death in 1966, the charity took control of the cinema, which was subsequently managed first by their daughter and later by their grandchildren. The building underwent several modernization efforts before its conversion back into an opera house. The audience hall was renovated in 1996, modern technical equipment was acquired in 2003, and the exterior was refurbished in line with its original design. These measures did not generate the anticipated increase in cinema attendance. In August 2005, Kadıköy Municipality leased the building from Darüşşafaka for 40 years. Beginning in 2006, the municipality led a comprehensive restoration and functional redevelopment, including work on the ceiling and wall frescoes and the sculptures on the façade. The restored venue reopened on December 14, 2007, with a performance of Ahmet Adnan Saygun's oratorio Yunus Emre. The reopening finally enabled the building to operate as the musical theatre that İlmen had envisioned roughly eight decades earlier. Its restored stage is approximately 14 metres wide, 10 metres deep, and 4.90 metres high. The venue has an orchestra pit, 14 dressing rooms, an auditorium with 570 seats, and a ballroom capable of accommodating approximately 500 guests. It is home to the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet and presents opera and ballet performances as well as exhibitions, festivities, celebrations, and civic events such as Republic Day functions.

Süreyya Opera House originated in Süreyya İlmen's effort to establish a substantial cultural venue in Kadıköy. During European travels, İlmen encountered prominent theatres whose architecture and public role influenced his plans for Istanbul's Asian side. Construction began in 1924, and he commissioned Kegham Kavafyan, an Ottoman Armenian architect, to design the building. Completed in 1927, it opened on March 6 under the name Süreyya Operetta. The building's foyer drew on Art Deco ideas associated with Paris's Champs-Elysées Theatre, while the auditorium incorporated German architectural influences. The institution's initial opera-oriented mission was constrained by practical deficiencies. The stage was not fully equipped and the building did not include suitable rooms for performers, so operetta productions did not take place during its early years. Instead, theatrical performances were presented on selected days. In 1930, the installation of sound-film equipment changed the venue's commercial direction. It was renamed Süreyya Cinema and became a movie theatre, a role it retained for most of the twentieth century. The venue's history also includes substantial non-cinematic uses. Its ballroom served as a wedding hall for many years. From 1959, the Kadıköy Stage theatre group used the space for five years, after which the ballroom became an apparel workshop. İlmen donated the theatre to Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti in 1950 while reserving the revenues for himself and his wife, Adalet İlmen, during their lifetimes. Following their deaths in 1955 and 1966 respectively, Darüşşafaka assumed control. The cinema was later operated by members of İlmen's family on behalf of the charitable institution. Efforts to modernize the building preceded its eventual return to opera. The auditorium was renovated in 1996, and updated technical equipment was obtained in 2003. The façade was also repaired in a manner intended to preserve its original appearance. These investments did not produce the desired improvement in cinema attendance. In August 2005, Kadıköy Municipality leased the building from Darüşşafaka for 40 years and initiated a redevelopment program at the beginning of 2006. The restoration lasted nearly two years. It addressed the building's cultural and architectural functions, including the frescoes on the ceilings and walls and the sculptures on the façade. The project added the technical infrastructure required for contemporary opera and ballet without abandoning the historic structure. The restored venue opened on December 14, 2007, with Ahmet Adnan Saygun's oratorio Yunus Emre. This event marked the realization, approximately 80 years after the original opening, of İlmen's goal of creating an opera venue. After conversion, the stage measured about 14 metres in width, 10 metres in depth, and 4.90 metres in height. An orchestra pit was added, and 14 dressing rooms were constructed while preserving the building's architectural character. The auditorium seats 570 people, while the ballroom can hold approximately 500 guests. The venue became a home for the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, with opera and ballet generally presented several days each week. It also remained a broader cultural center, accommodating exhibitions, celebrations, festivities, and public events. Its identity therefore developed from opera house to cinema and back to opera house, while retaining the community and event functions accumulated throughout its history.

• 2007

  Reopening as an opera house

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  After a major restoration, the venue reopened on December 14 with Yunus Emre by Ahmet Adnan Saygun.

• 2005

  Kadıköy Municipality leases the building

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Kadıköy Municipality leased the building from Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti for a 40-year term.

• 2003

  Technical modernization

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Modern technical equipment was acquired and the exterior was refurbished in keeping with the original design.

• 1996

  Auditorium renovation

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema auditorium was renovated as part of efforts to modernize the aging venue.

• 1959

  Kadıköy Stage begins using the ballroom

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The Kadıköy Stage theatre group began a five-year use of the venue's second-floor ballroom.

• 1950

  Donation to Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Süreyya İlmen donated the theatre to Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti while retaining lifetime revenue rights for himself and his wife.

• 1930

  Conversion to cinema

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Sound-film projection equipment was installed, and the venue was renamed Süreyya Cinema.

• 1927

  Süreyya Operetta opens

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  The building opened on March 6 as Süreyya Operetta, becoming the first opera-oriented venue on Istanbul's Asian side.

• 1924

  Construction begins

  [1]Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org

  Süreyya İlmen began construction of a cultural and social venue intended to address Kadıköy's shortage of major performance facilities.

A landmark Istanbul cultural venue that combines historic architecture with opera, ballet, theatre, exhibitions, and civic programming, serving as a major performing-arts institution for Kadıköy and the Asian side of the city.

• Performing arts · 2007

  Opera performances

  The venue's central contemporary function is the presentation of opera, particularly through its role as a home for the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Its restored stage, orchestra pit, dressing rooms, and auditorium were configured to support fully staged musical theatre rather than only film or spoken drama.

• Performing arts · 2007

  Ballet performances

  Süreyya Opera House hosts ballet productions alongside opera programming. The venue's restoration returned it to regular professional performing-arts use and established it as an Istanbul State Opera and Ballet venue.

• Events and cultural programming · 1927

  Cultural and civic events

  Beyond staged opera and ballet, the building accommodates exhibitions, festivities, celebrations, and civic occasions. Its ballroom, with capacity for approximately 500 guests, extends the venue's role into receptions and other cultural or public gatherings.

• Film exhibition · 1930

  Cinema

  From 1930 until its later restoration as an opera house, the venue operated primarily as Süreyya Cinema. The cinema phase began after sound-film projection equipment was installed and represented the building's longest sustained operating identity.

• 2007

  Reopening as Süreyya Opera HouseProduct launch

  Background

  The former cinema required restoration and new performance infrastructure before it could fulfill its original musical-theatre purpose.

  Action taken

  The restored venue reopened with Ahmet Adnan Saygun's Yunus Emre and added an orchestra pit, dressing rooms, and other opera-related facilities.

  Aftermath

  Süreyya became an active opera and ballet venue with a 570-seat auditorium and regular programming by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.

  Restoration cost. Approximately 14 million YTL (2006-2007 restoration)

  Source

• 2005

  Long-term municipal lease and cultural redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  Modernization efforts had not produced the expected improvement in cinema attendance, while the historic building still lacked the infrastructure needed for regular opera and ballet.

  Action taken

  Kadıköy Municipality leased the building from Darüşşafaka Cemiyeti for 40 years and initiated a restoration intended to return it to performing-arts use.

  Aftermath

  The project culminated in the venue's reopening as an opera house in December 2007 and its association with the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.

  Source

1. 1Süreyya Opera Houseen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Süreyya Opera House official websitesureyyaoperasi.org