Born in Istanbul, the mezzo-soprano EZGİ SAYDAM graduated with a degree
in sociology from Istanbul University, subsequently studying singing and
opera with Yıldız Dağdelen and Güzin Gürel at Mimar Sinan University State
Conservatory. She has also worked with Hanna Ludwig of the Salzburg Mozarteum,
Carol Byers and James Pearson in Vienna, and Ateş Orga at the Dr. Erol Üçer
Center for Advanced Musical Research, Istanbul Technical University. In 2010 Ezgi Saydam completed her doctoral thesis on the subject of ‘The Analysis and Comparison of Compositions written for Mezzosopranos from the formation of the of the Turkish Republic to the present date’ at the Istanbul University State Conservatory - read abstract.In 1995 she appeared in the Istanbul Baroque Ensemble’s tercentenary production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Later, at the 1997 International Istanbul Music Festival, she sang some of Beethoven’s folk-song arrangements with the Istanbul Chamber Music Ensemble. The following year, under the auspices of the Austrian Cultural Institute, she marked the bicentenary of Schubert’s birth, giving a Schubertiade with her father, the pianist Ergican Saydam. In recent seasons she has sung Lieder throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as giving many performances of Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben. In the 2000-01 seasons, she made her London concert and CD début at St John’s Smith Square, as well as performances in Istanbul of Kamran İnce’s In White.
During the 2001-02 seasons, the artist has performed in Istanbul, Brussels, Germany and Switzerland, interpreting W.A. Mozart, G. Mahler and R. Schumann’s songs.
She graduated from the Istanbul Technical University, Dr. Erol Üçer Centre for Advanced Musical Research with a Master’s Degree in Music Administration, in October 2002.
Other engagements have included recitals in Germany, Austria, Switzerland
and Belgium Brussels, and a concert performance of Cosi fan tutte (Dorabella)
in Vienna.In September 2004 she appeared in England for a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Manchester Camerata and Leeds Festival Chorus at the Ripon International Festival.
In December 2004 Ezgi Saydam was the first person to sing the Songs of Clara Schumann (Opus 13 Sechs Lieder). In 2005 she gave opera performances in Cairo and Alexandria in Egypt and followed this up with concerts in London.
At the Ankara and Istanbul Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Halls she gave performances of 20th century composers including Britten, Barber, Rorem, Ravel, Granados and Kurt Weill.
During the 34th Istanbul International Music Festival she was accompanied by the pianist Kamerhan Turan and gave a recital under the banner of ‘The love and life of a woman’. Using the same title a CD was issued of her first solo performances, distributed by pb music – Emi.
In March 2008 Ezgi gave a chamber recital at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall. This program included Baroque pieces, antique opera arias and Ravel’s Madagascar songs.
In 29 October 2008 she was called by the Brussels Conservatoire to give recitals and gave concerts in Cologne Bergisch – Gladbach to the Turkish – German friendship association – Integrationsrat. In 2010 she was invited as a soloist for the new year concert of the Eskişehir Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Patrick Souillot.
In December 2010 Ezgi gave a concert in Turkey for the benefit of a visual impairment charity, was invited again to Cologne Bergisch-Gladbach in April 2011, gave a Schubert concert in Istanbul at the Borusan Concert Hall, gave a recital concert at the Gaziantep Ömer Ersoy Cultural Centre, in association with the city municipality and was invited to the State Conservatory at the Trace University in Edirne’s new year’s concert in 2012.
On the 9th of October 2013 Ezgi Saydam graduated as an associate professor. Between 2014-2020 Ezgi has worked as faculty member at the T.C. Haliç University Conservatory department of Opera and Theatre.