STUDIES ON WESTERN OPERA, OPERETTE AND BALLET ABOUT TURKS AND TURKISH CULTURE

The relationships except the ones in commercial domain between European countries and Turks have been structured on a hostile perception in general since the medieval age. This perception is a concept whose roots have grown much deeper than appears. In spite of this fact, it can be observed that there are number of issues relevant with Turks within opera, operet and bale arts. Opera, operet and bale are known as art majors specific to European elites and aristocrats. Inclusion “Turk” image in these three art majors, point view toward Turkish culture are significantly important in this regard. Although there were hostile relationships in the political context, it is rather difficult to state that the point of view toward Turks in scope of aforesaid arts were in the same hostile perspective. In fact, this relationship was in the form of tremendous sympathy in at the stage sometimes. The present study will try to address intensive cultural exchange in these arts majors in the western societies even though there have been severe adverse conflicts among societies time to time. The fact that theatre, opera, operetta and ballet were closely oriented on Turkish culture since their preliminary periods until our contemporary time could be clearly observed from researches on archives, documents and libraries. While themes of majority of performing arts which mention Turkish culture were composed totally of incidents experienced with Turks, some of them included costumes, dances or characters from Turkish culture.