The 54th Istanbul Music Festival, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), is scheduled to run from 11th to 25th June. Among this year’s rich selection of visiting orchestras and musicians are the Berlin Soloists with countertenor Iestyn Davies, Kammerakademie Potsdam with the Jussen Brothers piano duo, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra – who in two concerts will be accompanying the pianist Bruce Liu, winner of the 2021 Chopin Competition, and the Iranian-Austrian cellist Kian Soltani.
Also on the programme are concerts by two Istanbul-based orchestras (the Tekfen Philharmonic and the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic), two modern ballet performances, outdoor concerts in parks and a day of musical events in the churches of Beyoğlu. The main venue will be the Atatürk Cultural Centre, but concerts will also be held in the Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy, the garden of the Palazzo di Venezia (the Italian Consulate-General), an entrance to the Grand Bazaar and a restored dervish lodge by the Golden Horn.
Here are some highlights:
June 11
Opening Concert (Açılış Konseri) with the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, who first accompany the Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov in Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No 2, then play Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Türk Telekom Opera Hall, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 12 & 13
Modern ballet performances by the Italian ‘Aterballetto’ company, who interpret works by Beethoven and Brahms (both played live) as well as pieces by George Gershwin and Bessie Jones. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Theatre Hall, 20:00. Tickets for June 12 from Passo. Tickets for June 13 from Passo.
June 13
‘Music Route’ (Müzik Rotası) – two events in which consecutive music performances take place in three of Beyoğlu’s churches (two Armenian and one Anglican), with audience members walking from venue to venue. Both events (12:00 and 13:20) begin at the Surp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Catholic Church in Atıf Yılmaz Caddesi, which leads off İstiklal Caddesi at the Ağa Mosque. Tickets for 12:00 event from Passo. Tickets for 13:20 event from Passo.
June 14
The Berlin Soloists – four members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra – first accompany countertenor Iestyn Davies in a selection of baroque, classical and modern works, then play a Mendelssohn string quartet. Süreyya Opera House, Kadıköy, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 14
‘Weekend Classics I’ (Hafta Sonu Klasikleri I – harp and flute music in the Yoğurtçu Park in Kadıköy). Yoğurtçu Park, Osmanağa Mahallesi, Moda, Kadıköy (in the valley of the Kurbağalıdere Stream, just before the Fenerbahçe Stadium), 17:00. Free of charge.
June 15
The Kammerakademie Potsdam Orchestra first accompany the Jussen Brothers piano duo in Schreker’s Intermezzo, a Mozart concerto for 2 pianos and Ravel’s La Valse, then play a Haydn symphony. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Theatre Hall, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 16
‘The Sound of Cinema’ (Sinemanın Sesi) – music written by Ennio Morricone for various films (including The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) is performed by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and a choir. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Türk Telekom Opera Hall, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 17
Talented young female musicians who have received scholarships show off their skills in a concert entitled ‘Women Stars of Tomorrow’ (Yarının Kadın Yıldızları), organised to raise funds for this highly laudable educational project. Süreyya Opera House, Kadıköy, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 19
In an event entitled ‘La Dolce Vita’, an Italian quintet headed by saxophonist Stefano di Battista give a personal and romantic twist to pieces in the bebop tradition. The garden of the Palazzo di Venezia (the Italian Consulate-General – entrance in Tomtom Kaptan Sokak), 21:00. Audience members must present ID. Tickets from Passo.
June 20
‘In the Path of Nefes’ (Nefesin İzinde), a concert featuring a selection of the sacred and secular works of traditional Turkish music, takes place in a restored dervish lodge by the side of the Golden Horn. Bahariye Mevlevihanesi, 20:00. Tickets from Passo. The venue, at Silahtarağa Caddesi No 12, Eyüpsultan, is accessible via the T5 tramline – alight at the Silahtarağa Mahallesi stop and walk on until you see the restored dervish lodge on your right.
June 20
‘Weekend Classics II’ (Hafta Sonu Klasikleri II – cello and guitar music in the Yıldız Park between Beşiktaş and Ortaköy). 17:00. Free of charge. Buses from Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş or Beşiktaş to Ortaköy, and minibuses from Beşiktaş to Ortaköy, stop at the entrance to Yıldız Park.
June 21
‘Fleeting Beauties’ (Ânın Güzellikleri) – works from the Western, Ottoman and Persian traditions are played and sung (with an element of improvisation) by setar-player Kiya Tabassian’s ‘Constantinople’ ensemble. Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) Kürkçüler Gate, 19:00. Tickets from Passo. T1 tramline to the Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı stop. Walk back, then turn left into Bileyciler Sokak until you come to the Kürkçüler entrance to the Grand Bazaar.
June 22
A ‘Festival Encounter’ (Festival Buluşması) features tenor Ian Bostridge, mezzo-soprano Feride Büyükdenktaş and pianist Saskia Giorgini in songs by Debussy, Mel Bonis, Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann. Süreyya Opera House, Kadıköy, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 23
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra accompanies Bruce Liu (a Chopin Competition prizewinner) in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3, then plays Schubert’s Symphony No 9. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Türk Telekom Opera Hall, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
June 24
The Vienna Symphony Orchestra accompanies the Iranian-Austrian cellist Kian Soltani in Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, then plays this composer’s New World Symphony. Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) Türk Telekom Opera Hall, 20:00. Tickets from Passo.
Here is the full Festival programme.
