The first local opera of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, “Arab Ali Epic”, in which Near East University Music Teaching Department students took part, had great interest by art lovers during its Turkey tour.

The first local opera of the TRNC, “Arab Ali Epic”, staged in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet of Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Presidential Symphony Orchestra, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Ministry of National Education and Culture State Opera and Ballet Coordination Center, completed its Turkey tour.

The composition of the first local opera of the TRNC, in which Muazzez Çekici, Doğuş Ferit, Özdemir Zaifoğlu and Hüseyin Gündüz, students of the Music Teaching Department of Near East University, also took part, was composed by Ali Hoca and the libretto by Havva Tekin. In the piece staged by Aytaç Manizade, the events that developed when a Cypriot port worker, known as “Arab Ali” among the folks, got into a fight with Captain Ağa, who was paying insufficient wages, and that his employer Captain Ağa had Ali thrown into prison.

“Arab Ali Epic”, which took place on a Turkey tour between December 1-14, 2021, had its first Turkish premiere at Bornova Culture and Art Center Necdet Aydın Stage on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 in Izmir. “Arab Ali Epic” also met with art lovers by taking the stage in Istanbul and Ankara.