Timur Okutman is 1974 Istanbul Turkey borned pop & opera singer and theologian. He spent his childhood in Istanbul Feriköy, Kadıköy Suadiye and Heybeliada. He is the child of a telecommunications technician father and a primary school teacher mother. He has a younger brother.
MUSIC
As a result of his passion for music, Okutman began his musical career in 1987 by taking guitar lessons.
After his first professional stage performance with a music enseble in 1996, he performed and worked with the same enseble on different stages in Istanbul.
The musician, who performed on stage in Bodrum - Türkbükü in 1999 and sang different repertoires of world music,
After settling in Fethiye in 2000, he continued his live performances at various hotels and venues in the region. During his time in Fethiye, he worked as a production and broadcast director for a regional television station and performed at venues such as Yakamoz AlaCarte Restaurant and Saint Nicholas Park.
In 2002 Okutman focused on opera and continued his works in this field.
In the following years, after meeting Prof. Dr. Leyla Pınar, (the director of the Istanbul Baroque Ensemble, known for its International Baroque Festivals, and the first Turkish harpsichord player) he became her private student.
He participated in the 2007 Istanbul Baroque Festival and performed with Prof. Leyla Pınar at the Galata Cultural Center.
On October 19, 2007, Okutman took part in as a guest in European Choir at the season opening concert of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. Composer Sibelius's Kullervo Op.7 symphony, conducted by Maestro Alexander Rahbari, was performed for the first time in Turkey in Istanbul at the Hagia Irene Church Museum.
In November 2007, members of the Spanish Portal Clasiforonuevo listed him under the title of the great voices of yesterday, today and tomorrow, and listed them among the voices of today that should be closely watched.
On 31.03.2008, he participated in the musical seminar on Baroque era sounds and examples of Genoa arias organized by Leyla Pınar within the 14th Istanbul Baroque Festival and gave performance by giving examples of Baroque era sounds,
In March 2008, a topic was opened about the singing technique he used on the Italian Music Portal Canto.
In the same year, Okutman made research and translations about Carlo Broschi the Farinelli, about whom there were no Turkish sources, and created the Turkish Farinelli Biography.
In December 2008, he participated with Prof. Leyla Pınar in the Christmas Carols CD Project by Italian Catholic Priest Luigi Iannitto, which was recorded at Saint Antoine Catholic Church. He performed Christmas Carols in Turkish and Italian.
Also in the same year, the aria "Nessun Dorma" from Giacomo Puccini's opera "Turandot" was performed and recorded for the first time as a soprano by Timur Okutman.
The name of the musician; who has a wide vocal range from bass to soprano and has all the characteristics of the N.Castrato tone, is becoming increasingly widespread among singing artists and drawing attention worldwide due to the recordings and works he has made so far.
Timur Okutman, who is also known for his research and articles on Farinelli and castratos; With his recordings, concerts and seminars, he brings the baroque castrato period to the present day with his voice and repertoire, and takes you on a time journey that you can never experience today, dating back to the 17th century. It allows you to listen to a voice that has ceased to exist in the 21st century and to have an idea.
The musician's recordings of Emma Shapplin's Spente Le Stelle, Nessun Dorma (G.Puccini), Ombra Mai Fu (From Bass to Soprano - G.F.Handel), Lascia Ch'io Pianga (G.F.Handel) were appreciated.
The musician has performed on many different stages until today and has sung different repertoires from world music, including opera.
Okutman, who speaks English, also has studies on Latin and Greek.
THEOLOGY
In addition to his music studies, Okutman (Th.D.) took a step toward professionalism in theology and philosophy which he became interested in in 2002. He studied theology and philosophy between 2006 and 2010, and subsequently specialized in these fields. His thesis, "The God Syndrome," was accepted by the authorities and was included in theological literature. Continuing his work throughout these years, Okutman, in addition to his role as lector, organized seminars for various communities and participated in symposia.