The 48th Istanbul Music Festival, organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) under the sponsorship of E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii A.Ş., will be held from 2 to 25 June 2020 with a programme built around this year’s theme The Enlightened World of Beethoven.
The 48th Istanbul Music Festival announced its programme at a press conference on Tuesday, 4 February at Feriye in Istanbul. The speakers comprised Chairman of İKSV Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Chairwoman of the Elginkan Community and Chairwoman of E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii A.Ş. Gaye Akçen, and Director of the Istanbul Music Festival Efruz Çakırkaya.
In his speech at the press meeting, Chairman of İKSV Bülent Eczacıbaşı said: “This year’s festival is called ‘The Enlightened World of Beethoven’ in honour of the great composer, whose 250th birthday anniversary the world is celebrating this year. Our festival programme is inspired by the enlightenment values that Beethoven represented, among them equality, fraternity, and love of nature. Through our concerts for audiences of every age, we are confident that we will again reach broad segments of the public. Our programme features the performance of three new works we have commissioned for this year’s festival: two are world premieres and the third will be the first performance in Turkey. As always, we are inviting music and voice students at conservatories to attend all concerts free of charge. We will also continue to contribute to the development of talented young women musicians through our “Women Stars of Tomorrow” programme, now in its third year. I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to our festival sponsor E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii for supporting culture and the arts and believing in the mission of our festival, and our warmest appreciation to all other institutions and individuals who have also made this 48th festival possible.”
In her speech, Chairwoman of the Elginkan Community and Chairwoman of E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii A.Ş. Gaye Akçen said: “E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii A.Ş. is both excited and honoured to be sponsoring this important event for the fifth time. As it does every year, this year’s festival will enrich our lives and bring us together in the beauty and sound of art and music, while introducing us to never-before-heard melodies. And throughout the year, we will be accompanied by the timeless music of Ludwig Van Beethoven as we celebrate the 250th birthday of the great genius. Now it is time to turn our faces to the light and look hopefully towards the horizon. We will embrace Beethoven’s vision of freedom and equality, draw inspiration from his love of nature and humanism, and be transported by his trailblazing music. In short, we will set out to discover “The Enlightened World of Beethoven”. As Beethoven himself famously said, ‘Music can change the world’. He was speaking from a universal perspective, which will serve as our compass on this journey of discovery.”
Delivering the details of the festival’s programme and theme, Director of the Istanbul Music Festival Efruz Çakırkaya said: “Through its theme ‘The Enlightened World of Beethoven’, the festival opens a window unto the composer’s world, which is based upon the novel and libertarian ideals of the Enlightenment, as well as his love for nature and humanity that underlies his visionary music language. The festival, which will feature distinguished orchestras and soloists, will present three new commissions and many creative projects. Beethoven’s love for nature and humanity will guide us as we try and tackle current issues around the environment and trigger questions on sustainability. We will enjoy being in nature with concerts and children’s workshops in parks and outdoor. In its 48th year, the Istanbul Music Festival will adopt a humanist philosophy based on freedom, equality, fraternity, and belief in the power of art and music to change the world that Beethoven so insistently cherished.”
Festival celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth
In 2020, the 48th Istanbul Music Festival, centred on the theme “The Enlightened World of Beethoven” celebrates the 250th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven along with the rest of the world. The festival will feature iconic works of Beethoven, who has gained a remarkable place in the cultural heritage of humanity with his music, as well as new commissions and new projects inspired by him.
The Istanbul Music Festival programme was based on sub-themes that present the essential aspects of the composer such as ‘love of nature’, ‘love of humanity’ and ‘innovative and visionary music language’, supporting the main theme of the festival. With his strong and bold musical language, Beethoven broke the boundaries of musical genres of his time and set new standards that still influence the music world. This visionary spirit of the composer will continue to fascinate the music world with new projects and works to be performed at the festival.
Festival will take place across 14 venues
The Istanbul Music Festival will host music enthusiasts in 14 venues in Istanbul such as the Archaeology Museum, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre, Saint Esprit Cathedral, Sakıp Sabancı Museum Fıstıklı Terrace, Surp Ohan Vosgeperan Armenian Catholic Church, Süreyya Opera House, Zorlu PAC Turkcell Platinum Stage and Zorlu PAC Sky Lounge. Additionally, the Music Route will be held in Büyükada, the largest of Princes’ Islands in Istanbul, at Hesed Le Avraam Synagogue, St. Pacifico Roman Catholic Church and the Anadolu Club. The free festival events Weekend Classics will be held at Feriye and Yıldız Park.
Winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition to open the festival
Dedicated to The Enlightened World of Beethoven, the 48th Music Festival will open with the composer’s popular Violin Concerto, op. 61, and the overture to his only opera, Fidelio. The winner of the 2019 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, who is also the top prize winner of the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition and youngest ever prize winner of the Menuhin Competition, the 26 year-old American star violinist Stella Chen will make her Turkey debut with this concert with the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, 2019-2022 Opening Concert Orchestra of the Istanbul Music Festival, under the baton of Aziz Shokhakimov.
The opening ceremony and concert will take place at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre on the evening of 2 June.
Festival’s Honorary Award goes to Ahmet Say
The 48th Istanbul Music Festival’s Honorary Award will be presented to the musicologist and music writer Ahmet Say.
Born in Istanbul in 1935, Ahmet Say began taking piano lessons at a young age. In 1946, invited by Ferdi Statzer, he entered the Istanbul Municipal Conservatory, where he studied theory and solfege with Demirhan Altuğ, piano with Verda Ün, and harmony with Raşit Abed. He left the Conservatory in 1950 and went to Germany where he studied media and press. During this time, under the guidance of musicologist Kurt Kohler, he got interested in musicology. Upon his return to Turkey he worked as a public educator in Bingöl. Here he collected folk songs, laments, fairytales and legends, and founded children’s and youth choirs as well as folk dance ensembles. Putting his experiences to use in the field of literature, he wrote award-winning novels and short stories (TRT Award, Sabahattin Ali Award, Antalya Film Festival Award, Milliyet Newspaper Novel Competition Award). In 1964 he settled in Ankara, where he worked for various newspapers and magazines. He worked as the director at the weekly magazine “Turkish Left”, and published a monthly literary magazine, “Turkish Writers”. Starting in 1974, he turned towards music education and publishing, directing the “Music Encyclopaedia Publications” and writing music criticisms.
Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Alexander Rudin
One of the leading representatives of Russian school of music; the cellist, conductor, pianist, harpsichordist, and professor Alexander Rudin will be the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Alexander Rudin’s artistic approach derives its strength from his natural interpretation with a careful and sensitive relationship with musical text. Despite having received education in traditional academic style, Rudin, who has focused on the authentic interpretations in early music, performs the Romantic period works in traditional style, while performing historically informed interpretations of the Baroque and Classical periods. With his vast repertoire covering four centuries, he has been performing the world and Russian premieres of contemporary composers’ works. Rudin has conducted many orchestras including London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony, the Bavarian State Opera, the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Russian National Orchestra. As of 1988, Alexander Rudin is the Artistic Director and principal conductor of Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra, as well as the Artistic Director of the Dedication International Music Festival in Moscow.
Alexander Rudin will be presented the Lifetime Achievement Award before a special concert with Andrej Bielow, Efdal Altun and İris Şentürker at Süreyya Opera House on 20 June.
Festival contributes to artistic production with three new commissions
Istanbul Music Festival has been commissioning local and international composers since 2011 with a view to supporting artistic production. This year, the festival continues to support contemporary music with three commissions and hosts two world premieres and one Turkey premiere.
The commission to the Turkish composer Turgay Erdener entitled Nonet Pastoral “alla turca” interweaves Beethoven’s Pastoral with themes from Ottoman composers, and it is part of the Beethoven Pastoral Project run within the scope of BTHVN2020. Erdener’s work will have its world premiere on 5 June, the World Environment Day, at the Archaeology Museum Courtyard under the sponsorship of STONELINE with the master musicians Derya Türkan, Yurdal Tokcan, Serkan Mesut Halili, Aykut Köselerli, Kağan Yıldız and Semplice Quartet.
The other work Toprak Sever İnsanları Birer Birer (Earth Loves People One by One) by Hasan Uçarsu is a co-commission with Tekfen Foundation and funded by Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. Inspired by the poems of the Turkish poet Fazıl Hüsnü Dağlarca, Uçarsu’s new work alludes to the universal values Beethoven represents both in person and in his music. The world premiere of Earth Loves People One by One will be given by the State Polyphonic Choir and Tekfen Symphony Orchestra on 8 June at Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre under the sponsorship of Tekfen Foundation.
Co-commissioned by the Istanbul Music Festival, Philharmonie Essen, Autumn Chamber Music Festival Riga and Wigmore Hall with the support of the President of the Hoffmann Foundation André Hoffmann, Peteris Vasks’ new work String Quartet No. 6 is based on the 3rd movement of Beethoven’s op. 132. ‘Heiliger Dankgesang’ (Holy Song of Thanksgiving). The work will have its Turkey premiere on 17 June at Surp Ohan Vosgeperan Armenian Catholic Church with the virtuoso interpretation of Artemis Quartet.
Music Route in Büyükada
Organised for the fifth time in the festival, the Music Route will take listeners on a musical journey on Büyükada, known for its impressive historical mansions, lovely nature, and relaxing atmosphere, for a day beyond time and space with a richly varied programme from Beethoven to Piazzolla. The largest of the Princes’ Islands set in the Sea of Marmara with a short ferry ride from the mainland of Istanbul, Büyükada will welcome classical music enthusiasts at the Anadolu Club, San Pacifico Latin Catholic Church and Hesed Le Avraam Synagogue. Sponsored by bluechip Creative Events, the Music Route will take place on Sunday, 7 June.
World-renowned orchestras at the festival
Istanbul Music Festival continues to bring the audiences together with the best local and international orchestras.
Staatskapelle Dresden, the first and only orchestra to have received the European Prize for the Preservation of the World’s Musical Heritage, will be the guest of the festival with the seven-time Grammy Award winner Emanuel Ax, who has been at the top of the world classical music scene for 45 years. Founded in 1548, Staatskapelle Dresden is one of the oldest orchestras in the world and performs about 260 operas and ballets each season. The orchestra will meet the Istanbul audience at the Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 12, as part of its Mediterranean tour with Emanuel Ax.
Performing a repertoire ranging from the Baroque to the Romantic, which includes not only masterpieces but also hidden musical treasures, Wiener Akademie Orchestra brings its expertise of a music culture that has been formed over the centuries everywhere it goes. The world-renowned period-instrument orchestra is the first in the world with its concert series RESOUND in which they perform works with the instruments of that specific period in the magnificent halls where the premieres were held. The favourite of international festivals and the regular guest at the Beethoven Festivals of Bonn, Warsaw and Krakow, Wiener Akademie will be at the festival with a very special Beethoven programme focusing on the theme of heroism in the composer’s works as well as the spirit of Enlightenment. The orchestra will perform with the soprano Sophie Karthäuser at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall on June 13.
Also known as “The Sound of Three Seas” and the 2019-2022 Opening Concert Orchestra of the Istanbul Music Festival, Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra will be at the festival with two concerts. The young American violinist Stella Chen will make her Turkey debut and open the festival with the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Aziz Shokhakimov on 2 June. Another concert of Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra will be the world premiere of Toprak Sever İnsanları Birer Birer, the festival’s commission to Hasan Uçarsu. The concert will be performed by the State Polyphonic Choir and Tekfen Symphony Orchestra on 8 June at Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre under the sponsorship of Tekfen Foundation.
The first ensemble invited from Turkey to BBC Proms in 2014 and one of the leading symphonic ensembles of Turkey, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra will be the guest of the festival with one of the greatest baritones of our day, Thomas Hampson to perform Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde from the “farewell trilogy” with the Canadian tenor Michael Schade. The concert will take place at Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre on 23 June under the sponsorship of Borusan Holding.
Named as the Artist of the Year at the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards, Vikingur Ólafsson will close the festival with the Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra led by the star conductor Elim Chan. Constantly inspiring its audiences with new concert formats and extraordinary projects, Berlin Konzerthaus Orchestra has one of the largest regular audiences in Europe with 12,000 seasonal subscribers. Established in 1952 with the name of Berlin Symphony Orchestra and took its current name in 2006, the ensemble reinforces its international reputation with the permanent conductor of Christoph Eschenbach as of this season after names such as Kurt Sanderling and Iván Fischer. The final concert of the 48th Istanbul Music Festival, which will bid farewell to music lovers with a grand finale, will be held on 25 June at Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre under the sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş / Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Tic. ve Hiz. A.Ş.
Strong women of classical music at the festival
Besides the female conductor Elim Chan, who will conduct the closing concert, the festival will host some of the great artists who have become the symbol of women’s power in classical music.
İdil Biret is the only pianist to have both performed and recorded Beethoven’s all piano works, including Liszt’s transcriptions of his nine symphonies. One of the best interpreters of Beethoven, İdil Biret will be the guest of the festival to perform at two concerts to be held on 6 June at 17.00 and 20.00 at Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall under the sponsorship of SEREL. Before the concert, the audience will have a chance to watch A Musical Odyssey, a 15-minute documentary which tells the story of the recordings of Beethoven’s works made by İdil Biret between 1985 and 2008.
Virtuoso solo percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, who leads the field with visionary and innovative projects, will join women musicians from Turkey on 18 June at Zorlu PAC Drama Stage, held in collaboration with the British Council’s Women Power in Culture programme. Two-time Grammy winner Glennie has performed a percussion concerto for the first time in the history of BBC Proms, and appeared on stage at the 2012 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. On her visit to Istanbul, she will be joined by the American percussionist Amy Salsgiver, who has been living in Istanbul for 15 years; Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and sa.ne.na member Seçil Kuran; Ceren Aydın, who regularly plays at the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra; and Nilay Sancar, the assistant concertmaster of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and the concertmaster of Orchestra Sion.
A special concert for babies
The Spanish ensemble La Petita Malumaluga’s world-famous Beatles for Babies project will invite babies and their families to participate in a warm and exciting tribute to The Beatles. This is a visual and sound proposal in which children and parents enjoy a selection of songs with sophisticated arrangements, performed by four distinguished musicians on the move and a dancer. This concert is not only for babies and children but also for parents whose lives have been accompanied by the unforgettable tunes of The Beatles. Beatles for Babies will be held in 6 different sessions on 13 and 14 June at Zorlu PAC Sky Lounge under the sponsorship of UNI BABY. The world-famous La Petita Malumaluga, consisting of musicians and dancers, is an ensemble specialising in performing arts for babies, toddlers and their families. The founders of the ensemble, dancer and choreographer Eva Vilamitjana and musician Albert Vilà have great experience in the field of pedagogy as well as a long international career.
Festival’s “Weekend Classics” concerts
The free festival events that have already become a tradition where Istanbulite music lovers start the weekend with classical music, the Weekend Classics concerts will be held at the Feriye and Yıldız Park with the sponsorship of Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş. / Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Tic. ve Hiz. A.Ş.
The first concert of the Weekend Classics will celebrate Beethoven’s love of nature on Saturday, 6 June at the Feriye. The Nederlands Saxofoon Octet’s unique project, “Canto in Flow” will guide the audience into a unique flow where music, breath and movement become one with a yoga experience against the backdrop of the Bosphorus. After the concert, children aged 4-7 will have a chance to join the “Ek Biç Ye İç” workshop on making seed balls and self-watering pots.
The second concert of the Weekend Classics will take place on the morning of Saturday, 20 June at the city’s famous Yıldız Park, home to more than 120 different kinds of trees, the oldest one being 400 years old. MİAM Percussion Ensemble will offer a selection of jazz, Latin and world music, followed by the “Make It & Play It” workshop for children aged 3-6 on making instruments from scrap materials.
Project for children and youth: Birlikte Güçlü Sesler Chorus II
In 2019, Istanbul Music Festival and İKSV Alt Kat: Learning and Interaction Space, with the support of Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA), initiated the Birlikte Güçlü Sesler Chorus, a project aimed for children and youth. Inspired by the White Hands Choir within El Sistema, Birlikte Güçlü Sesler Chorus brought children and youth with disabilities together at the 47th Istanbul Music Festival. This year, the second edition of the chorus Birlikte Güçlü Sesler Chorus II will bring refugee children and the native children of Turkey together. The second part of the project will be realised by İKSV Alt Kat with the support of the Istanbul Development Agency (İSTKA), and the kind contribution of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The choir, which will be conducted by Zeynep Eren Kovankaya and will consist of children and youth from the Human Resource Development Foundation, Mavi Kalem Social Assistance and Solidarity Association and the Association for Solidarity with Asylum Seekers and Immigrants, will present the unifying power of music between different cultures with a multilingual repertoire.
Birlikte Güçler Sesler Chorus II will meet the audience at a mini concert before A World Premiere: Toprak Sever İnsanları Birer Birer on 8 June at Lütfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Festival continues to support future women musicians with the “Women Stars of Tomorrow: Young Women Musicians Support Fund”
In 2018, the festival initiated a project to support the next generation of women musicians. Women Stars of Tomorrow: Young Women Musicians Support Fund is launched in collaboration with TSKB (Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası) and the contribution of the audiences to advance the international careers of gifted musicians in the branches of instrument, singing, and conducting.
The project is open to young Turkish women musicians who seek for financial support to study abroad or for various activities to further their careers. The selection committee, presided by the Deputy Director General of İKSV, musicologist Dr. Yeşim Gürer Oymak comprises conductor and Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall General Artistic Director Cem Mansur, violinist and conductor Hakan Şensoy, pianists Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü, and pianist İris Şentürker. The recipients will be announced on Monday, 13 April following the decision of the selection committee.
The young women musicians selected for support will then make their appearance at a concert on 10 June at Süreyya Opera House, where they will share the stage with the pianist Ayşegül Sarıca as guest artist. At the Pre-Concert Talk moderated by journalist and author Melis Alphan; Muaythai national team athlete İrem Çapar and Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of SosyalBen Foundation Ece Çiftçi will tell their personal success stories.
Applications for the support fund can be made until 13 March at destekbasvuru@iksv.org. For more information on Young Women Musicians Support Fund: https://muzik.iksv.org/en
Festival tickets go on sale on Saturday, 15 February
Tickets for the 48th Istanbul Music Festival will be on sale as of 10.30 on Saturday, 15 February and can be purchased through Biletix retail outlets, Biletix Call Centre (0850 755 55 55), Biletix web site (www.biletix.com) and also İKSV Box Office, where tickets can be purchased without a service fee. (İKSV box office is open between 10.00 and 18.00 and is closed on Sundays except for 16 February for general sales.) A limited number of student tickets will also be on sale for each concert.
Priority sales for Tulip Card members are on 10 February for Black Tulip, 11 February for White Tulip, and 12-13-14 February for Red, Orange and Yellow Tulip members. During the period of priority sales, Tulip Card members can purchase their tickets by phone on 0850 755 02 60, online and at IKSV box office between 10.30-19.00 and will be exempt from service fee. Black and White Tulip Card holders are entitled to a discount of 25% while 20% discount is applicable for Red, Orange and Yellow Tulip Card holders. For more details and advantages of the Tulip Card membership:
https://www.iksv.org/en/membership-and-support/tulip-card-membership-programme
Conservatory students from music and opera departments attend festival concerts free-of-charge
Students of the music and opera departments of conservatories are able to attend the Istanbul Music Festival concerts free-of-charge. Students will need to make reservation from rezervasyon.iksv.org/konservatuar one day prior to the concert that they would like to attend. Reservations will be approved on the basis of available capacity.
Supporters of the 48th Istanbul Music Festival
The 48th Istanbul Music Festival is organised with the support of several performance sponsors, in addition to Festival Sponsor E.C.A. Presdöküm Sanayii A.Ş.
Performance sponsors are Tekfen Foundation, Borusan Holding, Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş. / Mercedes-Benz Otomotiv Tic. ve Hiz. A.Ş., Bell Holding, Organik Holding, STONELINE, Nobel İlaç, SEREL, UNI BABY, bluechip Creative Events, Berrin Erengül, Eva Barlas and Işıklar Holding.
Additionally, Tekfen Foundation supports the festival with Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra as the festival’s Opening Concert Orchestra in 2019-2022.
TSKB (Türkiye Sınai Kalkınma Bankası) supports the festival as the Education Support Fund Sponsor.
The 48th Istanbul Music Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Governorship of Istanbul, the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, Beşiktaş Municipality and Kadıköy Municipality.
The festival takes place with the kind collaborations of Adalar Municipality, Anadolu Club, Austrian Cultural Forum, BTHVN2020 Beethoven Pastoral Project, Biletix, British Council, WoW Istanbul Women of the World Festival 2020, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Goethe Institut, Hesed Le Avraam Synagogue, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Feriye, Saint Esprit Cathedral, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, San Pacifico Latin Catholic Church, Süreyya Opera House, Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, Zorlu Performing Arts Centre and Ernst von Siemens Foundation.
The Founding Sponsor of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts is Eczacıbaşı Group, İKSV Official Hotel Sponsor is The Marmara Collection, the Carrier Sponsor is DHL, the Insurance Sponsor is Zurich Insurance Group, and the Service Sponsors are American Hospital, Navitas, GFK and AGC.
The 48th Istanbul Music Festival’s promotional campaign was led by an advisory board comprised of Pemra Ataç, Uğurcan Ataoğlu and Kenan Ünsal. The festival poster was designed by Geray Gencer and illustrated by Müjde Polatkan whereas the campaign video was prepared by Animasyon Cumhuriyeti.
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