Turkish-born bass Burak Bilgili has just performed Leporello in Geneve and recently performed Zaccaria in Michigan's Nabucco and Ferrando in San Francisco Opera's season opening Travatore (which he performed at the Metropolitan Opera and in Geneve last spring). This past summer he was Giorgio in I Puritani with the Teatro Massimo Palermo at the Savonlinna Festival. Just prior he was the Dulcamara with Michigan Opera Theater. From the time of his professional operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in 2002-03 as Don Alfonso in Lucrezia Borgia, he has enjoyed a busy international schedule of engagements. He opened the 2008/09 season in Palermo as Giorgio in I Puritani and in 2007/08 he portrayed the Villains in Les Contes d’Hoffmann at the Virginia Opera, followed by his debut at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as Padre Guardiano in Forza under Mº Zubin Mehta, Don Basilio in Toronto, and Nourabad in Les Pêcheurs de Perles at Florida Grand Opera.

In 2006-2007 Mr. Bilgili’s performed Escamillo with Den Norske Oper, Banquo in Vancouver and Walter in Luisa Miller with the Canadian Opera in Toronto. He was also Ferrando in Trovatore, Colline in Boheme in Las Palmas and finally Ramfis in Cincinnati. In 2005-2006 he was in Toronto for Banquo, the New York City Opera for Timur, Vancouver for Leporello, and as Banquo for his Seattle Opera debut. He performed Escamillo at the Savonlinna Opera Festival, and the bass solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, which he performed with the Louisville Orchestra.

Some earlier career highlights have included his debut at the Liceu in Barcelona as Timur, his Metropolitan Opera debut as Leporello in a new production of Don Giovanni in 2003-2004 (Sir Andrew Davis), Raimondo with Rome Opera and Palm Beach Opera, Faure’s Requiem with the Lyon Symphony Orchestra and Istanbul European Choir. Mr. Bilgili appeared in recital, singing Schubert's Die Winterreise at the Austrian Consulate Cultural Office in Istanbul, and took part in San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program where he performed Don Alfonso in Così and Betto in Gianni Schicchi. He also appeared as soloist in the Mozart Requiem and Coronation Mass with the Istanbul European Choir, and as Don Geronio in Il Turco in Italia and Abimelech in Samson et Dalila with the Istanbul State Opera.

A recipient of numerous awards, Mr. Bilgili received top prizes including First Prizes in the Belvedere International Competition 2002 in Vienna, the International Alfredo Kraus Competition 2002 in Las Palmas, and the Neue Stimmen International Opera Competition in 2001. He was also a winner of the Loren Zachary Opera Competition, and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Voice Competition. A graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Mr. Bilgili continues to study voice with Bill Schuman.

Some highlights for 2010 include: Leporello in Michigan, Simon Boccanegra in Montreal, Puritani in Cagliari, Verdi Requiem with the Atlanta Symphony, Raimondo in Vancouver and his Bayerische Staatsoper debut as Don Basilio will be in 2010-11.