A Turkish soprano died of respiratory and cardiac failure in Italy on Saturday.

- 11 / 05 / 2008 08:07

Leyla Gencer, one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century, died in her house in Milan, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture & Arts said.

She was 80.

A statement by the foundation said that a funeral would be held for Leyla Gencer at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan on Monday.

After the ceremony, Gencer's body will be cremated and her ashes will be brought to Istanbul, Turkey to be spread to the Bosphorus.

A "Leyla Gencer Museum" will also be built in Istanbul.

Born in Istanbul in 1928, Gencer started studying vocal arts in Istanbul conservatory and she later studied with Italian soprano Giannina Arangi-Lombardi and Apollo Granforte.

Leyla Gencer made her operatic debut as "Santuzza" in Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" at the Ankara State Opera in 1950.

Gencer's international career began with "Madama Butterfly" opera at the Santa Carla Theater in Naples in 1954.

In 1957, she made her debut at Teatro alla Scala in Milan as "Lidoine" in the world premiere of Poulenc's "Les Dialogues des Carmelites."

Applauded as "La Diva Turca" in many opera halls all around the world, Gencer took stage until 1980s.

Gencer received many awards including "state artist" title in Turkey and "Caruso" award in Italy.

Known as the "last diva of the 20th century," Leyla Gencer spent the last years of her life as a didactic art director of an academy in Milan.

There is a voice competition in Turkey named after Leyla Gencer. The competition is held every year since 1995.