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Two young opera singers from Türkiye, Merve Timurcuoglu and Sinem Guc, have been barred from participating in a major international competition in Italy after the Italian Consulate in Istanbul rejected their visa applications.
According to Euronews Turkish, the singers had been selected for the semifinals of the Tullio Serafin International Opera Competition, a respected classical music event held annually in Italy, but were unable to travel due to what the consulate cited as “missing documentation.”
Although the official justification pointed to incomplete documentation, both artists stated that they had submitted every required document in advance and even provided additional paperwork to ensure the application was complete.
Guc explained that their visa applications were filed on May 9 through iDATA, the visa intermediary used by Italy in Türkiye. Despite repeatedly checking for requirements and submitting all materials, their applications were returned several times with no clear explanation.
Speaking exclusively to Euronews Turkish, Guc emphasized that their purpose was not only to compete but also to represent Türkiye’s artistic talent on a global platform, stating, “We are young artists from a country that has long admired Italian opera."
Both singers underlined the lack of clear communication throughout the process. Guc said their flight was scheduled for Friday morning ahead of the semifinals on June 22–23, but they never received their passports back in time and were given no formal response regarding the outcome. She added that the consulate later cited “insufficient financial means” as another reason, despite bank statements and additional sponsor support being submitted.
“Today, we should have been in Italy,” she remarked, “but instead, we were at the Italian Consulate.”
Merve Timurcuoglu, the other singer affected by the denial, voiced similar concerns. She noted that they had even submitted more documents than required, including full bank records to prove their financial stability. Despite this, they were informed—indirectly—that their applications were rejected. The passports, she added, had still not been returned.
Timurcuoglu pointed out a growing pattern, saying that many fellow musicians, even those accepted to international academies or competitions, have also faced similar roadblocks when applying for visas to Italy or France.
Opera singer and educator Burak Bilgili criticized the decision and questioned the financial reasoning given by the consulate. According to him, the young performers had applied through regular cultural channels and met all necessary conditions.
“These are talented students who had a real chance to make their mark on stage. There were originally eight female candidates selected for that role; now only six remain. That means opportunities were taken away from these young artists,” he said to Euronews Turkish.
Bilgili also noted that the students had purchased their flight tickets in advance, which could not be refunded, leading to additional financial loss alongside the missed career opportunity.
In response to the consulate's decision, both singers are now preparing to take legal steps. They plan to file a formal complaint with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and an appeal with the Administrative Regional Court of Lazio (TAR), seeking to challenge the visa rejection.
The Tullio Serafin International Opera Competition is recognized for its panel of distinguished directors and conductors and serves as a vital platform for emerging artists to gain international recognition. For many young performers from Türkiye, events like this offer critical exposure and the chance to advance their careers beyond national borders.
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