Istanbul Bulletin

New York Culture and Tourism Attaché announced that from 8 July till the end of August 2010, Turkey will be promoted to visitors of New York from the News Corporation Sony TV located at the Times Square in Manhattan, USA.

Turkey advertisements by views from Istanbul, Aegean coasts, Ephesus, Cappadocia and Mount Nemrut will capture the eyes of daily 2 million visitors at one of the hottest place to visit in New York and the world.

The advertisement while promoting the country with photos from must-see places in Turkey, also invites viewers to visit www.goTurkey.com for further information on how to and where to travel.

New York Culture and Tourism Attaché Nihan Bekar said, “The Turkey advertisements in USA are started in April 2010 and continue since then in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington”.

She added that Turkey advertisement campaign continues at national TV channels as ABC, NBC, CBS, target magazines, newspapers and online web sites in selected US states. Additionally Turkey advertisements can be seen at outdoor billboards.

Following the preliminary selections in Milan, Berlin and İstanbul in May, 40 contestants from 14 countries were selected to participate in the VIth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition.

VIth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition, organized by İstanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts and Fondazione Accademia d’Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo Teatro alla Scala will be held in İstanbul, before an internationally renowned jury and the presence of an audience, between August 21-26. The competition is organised in the name of Leyla Gencer, the greatest name Turkey has presented to the opera world who passed away in 2008.

Winner of the VIth Leyla Gencer Voice Competition will be performing at the 2011 Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the 39th International İstanbul Music Festival.

Under the leadership and in the name of one of the greatest divas of 20th century, Leyla Gencer, the first Leyla Gencer Voice Competition was held in 1995. The competition aimed at introducing young talents all around the world to an international opera scene and giving them a chance to have a constructive and meaningful start at their careers to come.

Marcelo Álvarez, one of today's leading lyrical tenors, has been among those who have seized an instant opportunity to get an international recognition through the competition. The Argentinean artist has won the second prize at the 1st Leyla Gencer Voice Competition that has taken place in 1995, made the transition from being an unknown talent to an artist playing at the prestigious La Fenice Theatre in Venice.

Georgian soprano Nino Machaidze was the favorite and first prize winner at the 2006 competition, the last one to be attended personally by Leyla Gencer. Today Machaidze's stellar rise receives admiration. In 2008 she played Juliette in Gounod's Romeo and Juliette opposite Rolando Villazon in Salzburg. Following that was the Elvira part in I Puritani, opposite Juan Diego Florez, at the Teatro Communale of Bologna. She carried on with her success as she performed the lead role in L'Elisir d'Amore for the season premiere at the LA Opera in 2009. She will soon be performing in a new production of L'Elisir d'Amore at La Scala. Machaidze's name has gained a well-deserved place among the leading names of the international opera scene.

Anita Rachvelishvili is the latest talent presented by the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition to the opera world. Right after the third prize she won at the competition, she had a major success as Carmen at La Scala lead by Daniel Barenboim. A recent graduate of La Scala's Music Academy, 25-years-old Rachvelishvili was carried to the lead role by Barenboim himself after she was tried out for a more minor part. At the season opening of La Scala, Rachvelishvili was received with much enthusiasm from the musical authorities and the audience which surely is an indication of a magnificent career that lies ahead of her.

Pegasus Airlines Surf'n Sound Sport and Music Festival
Arrives in Alacati-Turkey

For the fourth year running Pegasus is the lead sponsor PWA Windsurfing World Cup, held on 9-14 August in Izmir's Alacati Turkey, attracting the world's fastest and most famous windsurfers.

These legendary windsurfers racing for the Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup at Myga Surf City presented an unforgettable experience for all, not to mention the concert, beach party and daylong surprise activities after the awards ceremony on Saturday 14 August.

Comprising the Windsurf World Cup competitions of Professional Windsurfers Association (PWA) in its agenda, The Sports and Music Festival is realised under auspices of Turkish Sailing Federation with the support of Alaçatı Municipality.

While windsurfers from 35 different countries attended the World Cup, such as one of the best Slalom Windsurfers around the world Antoine Albeau with the world speed record of 2009 with 49.09 mph, the 12 times World Champion Björn Dunkerbeck, Finian Maynard and Kevin Pritchard placed among the tops of the world ranking and in the women’s category windsurfers such as Karin Jaggi, Valerie Ghibaudo, the Turkish National windsurfers Enes Yılmazer, Ertuğrul Içingir, Çağla Kubat and Lena Aylin Erdil competed for the PWA Windsurf World Cup reward of 55,000 €.

The registrations that was held in Alaçatı Surfer’s Paradise for the Pegasus Airlines PWA World Cup commenced on August 9th and then the races took place throughout the day. The World Cup ended with an awards ceremony on Saturday August 14th. After the awards ceremony Beach Party rendered Pegasus Airlines PWA Windsurf World Cup memorable.

From Thursday, August 12th until the end of the festival, the spectators followed the windsurfers compete for the cup and in the meantime win prizes from the activities that was organized by Pegasus Airlines such as trampoline and chance ball. On Friday and Saturday the spectators enjoyed the performing POWER FM DJ Funky C and dance with the Latin rhythm in Zumba Fitness Party.

Turkish Yeni Rakı and Turkey's All Cooks Federation organized a festival on July 3rd at Bosphorus. The festival brought a record of 1515 appetizers cooked by 90 chefs with the authorities from Guinness Record Book.

All appetizers are controlled and notarized by the authorities from Guinness. Mey Drinks Marketing Manager Elif Göktaş stated that as 2010 is the Istanbul European Capital of Culture, they decided to realize this project which has two years of studies. Göktaş added that this project is one of the projects they support raki and culture of dining. Göktaş said 1515 appetizers cooked by 90 chefs from Turkey Cooks National Team clearly show the rich appetizer culture of Turkey. "We push the boundaries of creativity in appetizer business. First cooks determined 1515 appetizers. Then wrote their receipts one by one", added Göktaş.

The 5th International Aegean Yacht Rally organized by Setur Marinas in order to present Aegean Sea to the yachtsmen from all over the world and support yachting and sailing in Aegean waters set sail 18 - 30 July 2010.

The Aegean Yacht Rally targets to develop friendship and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries of the Aegean Sea; Greece and Turkey.

The first Aegean Yacht Rally was organised in July 2000 and traditionally been organised every two years since then. During the International Aegean Yacht Rallies organised in 2000, 2003, 2005 & 2007, more than 1000 yachtsmen from 20 different countries visited Samos, Chios, Lesvos, Limnos, Kos, Leros, Skopelos, Skiathos, Thasos Islands and Kavala, Volos and Porto Carras Ports by covering 2250 nautical miles.

The 5th International Aegean Yacht Rally started from Setur Kusadasi Marina. Following, the Rally Fleet visited Samos, Leros, Simi and Rhodes islands and the rally ended in Marmaris Netsel Marina on July 30th. This year's rally was attended by 55 yachts. Participants include CEO of Japan's Mitsui Holding, Rahmi Koç from Koç Holding and from the Netherlands, UK, Greece, and Turkey.