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In This 'Faust,' A Devil Worth Knowing
Turkish bass Burak Bilgili's Mephistopheles was imposing, comedic, menacing and regal by turns. His commanding voice, flecked with golden, spicy tones, is unusually expansive for a bass; Bilgili easily projected it above the orchestra.
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2005,04,26
The Washington Post
'Faust' effective as moral lesson
But the most impressive performance of the evening was turned in by bass Burak Bilgili as the villainous Mephistopheles. Leering, bullying, and controlling the multitudes with his evil magic, Mr. Bilgili's dominating voice imposed the rule of chaos on the evening. Gounod designed his Satanic majesty to be an over-the-top kind of devil, and Mr. Bilgili seemed more than happy to oblige, making the cathartic finale all the more electrifying.
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2005,04,25
The Washington Times
"Faust "chilling,true to its source
Vocally, the opera was dominated by bass Burak Bilgili as Mephistopheles. His powerful, commanding voice was matched to a stage presence that could be simultaneously humorous and frightening. As the opera progressed, his destruction of Marguerite and Faust took on an increasingly cruel and evil aspect, and Bilgili mirrored this change in singing that grew more forceful. His sardonic laughter during the third-act serenade was especially chilling.
Bilgili made one wonder why Gounod didn’t call his opera “Mephistopheles”!!!!!!
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2005,04,03
Virginia Hampton Roads
Someone turn down the volume
Similarly, Turkish bass Burak Bilgili's larger-than-life Mephistopheles in the Golden Calf aria from Gounod's Faust was able somehow to put sheer noise in its place. This born singer-actor (whose vocal powers have steadied and increased in skill since his last appearance here) was able effortlessly to project cruelty, irony and a ferocious delight in this great aria, making us forget momentarily that our ears were being nailed together by the over-the-top miking.
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2004,09,02
Globe and Mail -- Entertainment
Channelling Jolson by the lake
Among the other great voices on hand was Turkish-born Burak Bilgili, who wowed with the demonic "Le Veau d'or" aria from Gounod's Faust and the malicious "La calunia" from Rossini's Barber Of Seville. Returning favourite faces included Russell Braun, who sang an exuberant "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's Barber Of Seville.
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2004,09,01
Toronto Star
BBC Singer of the World 2003, Concert 3 Review
"Burak Bilgili, a bass sang with bags of power and had true Verdian authority.
His power was really felt in an impressive account of La Calunnia from the Barber of Seville.
Turkey might not be renowned for producing opera singers but last night entering this competition for the first time, their representative won the third heat."
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2003/06/25
South Wales Echo,AJ Sicluna, Cardiff ,UK
BBC Singer of the World 2003, 3 Concert Winner
"Burak Bilgili strode onstage and surveyed the audience solemnly and we all sat to attention. He chose three works for the heroic bass - Banquo, Silva and a Turkish song of which I know nothing but I'm sure it's heroic. He is a good example of tails investing authority - he stood, powerful, unyielding.
Coming back onto the stage for his final aria, Burak was wreathed in smiles. So were we with his performance of La calunnia. His rapport with the orchestra went so well that, for a moment or two, Carlo Rizzi leaned back against his rail and let them get on with it. There's confidence!"
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2003/06/22
BBC Singer of the World 2003, Cardiff, UK
FAUST,Philadelphia AVA
"On this latter point, it is not clear whether this dramatic split personality derives from the direction, or Burak Bilgili's impersonation. The leather-throated basso seemed to relish the inky naughtiness of his role in a manner that would be better suited to the role of Leporello (which he debuts at the Met next season). Certainly, his powerful and supple voice was a pleasure to hear."
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2003/05/01-07
CITY PAPER Philadelphia, USA
FAUST, Philadelphia AVA
"Bilgili is all he's cracked up to be. Although he sacrifices pitch accuracy for the sake of volume, the voice has a distinctive, burnished core, and his brand of insolence makes Méphistophélès a character whose repulsion is also entrancing..........."
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2003/04/26
Philadelphia Inquirer ,David Patrick Stearns
Lucia di Lammermoor,Palm Beach Opera
"Burak Bilgili was an excellent Raimondo, his bass, flexible and sonorous of tone, and his understated acting bringing out the gentle yet devious nature of Lucia's Svengali-like minister."
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2003/01/26
Sun-Sentinel Florida ,Lawrence A.Johnson
Lucia di Lammermoor,Palm Beach Opera
"As Raimondo.Lucia's chaplain, Turkish bass Burak Bilgili never grabbed your attention at first. But by the end of his arias, he always surprised by the vocal depth and personal strength and he quietly lent to the role."
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2003/01/26
Palm Beach Post ,Sharon McDaniel
Rigoletto,Baltimore Opera
"Two young singers I'd never heard before rounded out the pricinpals: Burak Bilgili as Sparafucile the assassin and Sarah M'Punga as Maddalena, his sister and accomplice. Verdi broke a bit with tradition by giving us a baritone "hero" and a tenor "villain", though the Duke more wafts through people's lives leaving destruction in his wake as he pursues pleasures than actively destroys, selfish rather than evil. But the bass and contralto are as they should be, and Sarah M'Punga's Maddalena is every inch the "bad girl."
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2002/11/25
Baltimore Opera Season Critics
Altamira Summer Concert,Canadian Opera Company
"The opening program of the very popular Canadian Opera Company Altamira Summer Concert at Harbourfront was dominated by basses, of all things. The only non-Canadian was young Turkish bass Burak Bilgili whom Richard Bradshaw found at a New York audition. He is simply sensational, with a thrilling, commanding, passionate voice layered with wonderful phrasing and ease of delivery. Bilgili is also a marvellous interpreter, whether in the comic aria "La calunnia" from Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" or the dramatic "Come dal ciel precipita" from Verdi's "Macbeth"."
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2002/07/31
Toronto Classical 96.3 FM ,Paula Citron
Jeunesses Musicales Montreal Voice Competition
"The most imposing voice of the evening was that of Turkish bass Burak Bilgili who immediately established himself as the one to beat with a devilish "La calunnia" from Rossini's Barber of Seville. Equally convincing was Bilgili's dramatic reading of the oratorio aria from Rossini's Stabat Mater. Bilgili's warm voice projected well and his high notes came easily with the help of getting on his toes. The evening concluded with a full-throated presentation of an aria from Bizet's rarely performed La Jolie File de Perth......"
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2002/06/05
La Scena Musicale Montreal,CANADA
Montserrat Caballé and New Voices
"Montserrat Caballé presented the most beautiful voices.All are long exceeded it over the talent stage, have stage-ripe and individual being correct profile. Like Burak Bilgili (winner 2001) with its magnificently clear, probably-formed bass, which presented among other things also a beautiful song of Ahmed Adnan."
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2002/05/13
Neue Westfasliche,Von Eckhard Britsh
Barber of Seville,Philadelphia AVA
"Burak Bilgili is powerful as Bartolo’s henchman, Basilio. His and the orchestra’s rendition of the crescendo slander aria, "La calunnia," is a highlight...."
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2002/04/29
Philadelphia City Paper ,Steve Cohen
Barber of Seville,Philadelphia AVA
Philadelphia "Burak Bilgili drew a storm of applause after his voice boomed out the music master's big aria......"
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2002/04/29
New Jersey Courier Post,Robert Baxter
Lucrezia Borgia,Philadelphia AVA
" Relishing the Duke’s gleeful malice,Burak Bilgili showed considerable strides in bel canto style since last season’s La Sonnambula"
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2002/03/07
Philadelphia City Paper,David Shengold
Lucrezia Borgia,Philadelphia AVA
“Rounding out the fatal triangle, Burak Bilgili commanded a resonant bass voice with the snarling tone required for Lucrezia’s jealous husband”
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2002/03/01
Opera Around The World
San Francisco Opera Merola Program
"A Turkish bass? A rarity to be sure. But the way that Burak Bilgili raced through the rapid patter of Don Magnifico in a "Cenerentola" excerpt suggested a new voice we'll be hearing more about later."
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2001/08/20-27
San Francisco Bay Area Music,Paul Hertelendy
Neue Stimmen Competition 2001 Winner,Germany
"The new voice 2001 is called Burak Bilgili"
"The Turkish bass Burak Bilgili has endowed 1. Price (Liz Mohn price) the international singing competition "new voices" the Bertelsmann donation won.
The bass convinced the International Jury under the honorary chairmanship of Sir Peter Ustinov with the “Aria of the Ralph” from the opera "La jolie fille de Perth" of Georges Bizet."
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2001/06/26
Bertelsmann Foundation News Letter
New Voices International Voice Competition Germany
"Turkish opera singer, Burak Bilgili, 26, came first at the "New Voices" competition organized by German Media Company, Bertelsmann."
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2001/05/21
Turkish Press Review
New Voices Competition 2001 Winner,Germany
"Under more than 1,200 applicants the 26 years old Turkish bassist Burak Bilgili won the international singing competition in Guetersloh on weekend. It receives endowed first price of the Bertelsmann donation. The competition is considered as one of the most important talent sighting to the opera and Operetta."
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2001/05/21
Berlin Online, Germany
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