Today in History – 3 June

First graduates of the State Conservatory

Founded in Ankara, the State Conservatory graduated its first class on June 3, 1941 at a commencement ceremony in which President İsmet İnönü was present. As pioneers of Turkish opera, the young students performed two operas in Turkish on the stage of the Halkevi (People’s House) in Ankara. The first was Mozart’s comic opera Bastien und Bastienne. Next, the students performed the second act of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. The Presidential Philharmonic Orchestra accompanied the performances.

After watching the performance, İsmet İnönü addressed the students as follows:

I see that you worked hard and you did well. I congratulate all of you. We expect great achievements from you. We are patient. We would like for you to work with patience and passion. We embrace this great art with a great move of reform. This is the highest of all forms of art. You will carry it further. You will work persistently, tirelessly, with a passion for reform and the arts.

We have hope in you.

I heard about your accomplishments from many friends. After I saw it for myself, I believe that you are all destined to be stars in the future. You shall think not only of your own rise to fame, but rising together with the nation by having the people embrace a love for the arts. Apart from being competent performers, you shall also strive to be good people with strong characters.