Events taking place at the Atatürk Cultural Center in March have been announced

At the AKM Theater Hall, the plays ‘Veda’, ‘Tamamla Bizi Ey Aşk’, ‘Aydınlıkevler’, ‘Seneye Bugün’, ‘Of Mice and Men’, ‘Bella Figura’, ‘Equus’, and ‘Richard’ will be performed, while the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will stage the operas ‘II. Mehmet’, ‘Don Giovanni’, and ‘Faust’, as well as the ballet ‘Giselle’.

World-renowned conductors and artists will continue to be guests at the IDSO’s classic Friday concerts.

Sertab Erener will also be at the AKM with her beloved songs.

ISTANBUL STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DENİZBANK CONCERTS

MARCH 1- 20:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

In its first concert of March, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra will feature two great composers who have become symbols of Spanish and Czech culture in classical music. The orchestra's esteemed member Bülent Evcil will perform the Flute Concerto by J. Rodrigo, one of Spain's most famous composers, which is titled ‘Pastoral’ because it incorporates the powerful, local colors of his country.

Following this, the ‘Eighth Symphony’ by A. Dvorák, the greatest representative of Czech national music, which is filled with birdsong and was composed in a country house in the homeland he returned to with longing, will be performed. The orchestra will be conducted by American conductor Ryan McAdams.

VEDA

MARCH 1- 20:30- AKM THEATER HALL

Ayşe Kulin's beloved work ‘Veda’, adapted and directed by Nedim Saban, will meet theater lovers at the AKM Theater Hall on March 1. The autobiographical novel, in which Ayşe Kulin recounts the life of her grandfather Ahmet Reşat, the last Minister of Finance of the Ottoman Empire, tells the story of the years of the War of Independence and the founding of the Republic as a heartwarming tale of a mansion and love.

In the theatrical adaptation of the novel, master theater artist Nevra Serezli and Leyla Feray will take the stage in the lead roles.

TAMAMLA BİZİ EY AŞK- ALİ POYRAZOĞLU THEATER

MARCH 2- 20:00- AKM THEATER HALL

In the interactive comedy ‘Tamamla Bizi Ey Aşk’ (Complete Us, O Love), written by Ali Poyrazoğlu and also starring Güneş Berberoğlu and Melih Erener, relationships are handled with a humorous touch. Relationship tips are offered to the audience through the story of a couple specializing in marriage therapy. The play will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 2 at 20:00.

II. MEHMET- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALET

MARCH 2- 16:00- MARCH 6- 20.00 and MARCH 27- 20.00 AKM THEATER HALL

G. Rossini's famous work ‘II. Mehmet’ (Maometto II), staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet and premiered on February 24, will continue to meet the audience at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall on March 2, 6, and 27.

The work, which focuses on the love story of the seventh Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Fatih Sultan Mehmet, and is being performed in its original language, Italian, at the AKM for the first time in 34 years, features Burak Bilgili and Zafer Erdaş (II. Mehmet) and Dilruba Bilgi and Gülbin Günay (Anna) in the lead roles.

LA NOSTALGIA- AYKUT YILMAZ- COFFEE CONCERTS

MARCH 2- 11.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL LOWER FOYER

The most well-known and memorable songs of the 60s, 70s, and 80s will meet listeners at the Coffee Concerts with the interpretation of tenor Aykut Yılmaz. This nostalgic journey, consisting of opera arias, musical theater songs, Lieder, and Turkish songs that tell of love for a beloved, family, nature, life, and art, will meet its audience on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00.

FIRE OF ANATOLIA

MARCH 4- 20:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

Drawing its source from Anatolia's thousands of years of mythological and cultural history, Fire of Anatolia continues to meet art lovers at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall with its original production that includes 3,000 folk dance figures and folk music compiled from different regions.

The project, which bears the signature of Mustafa Erdoğan, aims to introduce the fire of Anatolia's thousands of years of cultural and historical mosaic, blended with peace, to the whole world.

WINTERREISE- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET- MDT ISTANBUL

MARCH 5- 20:00- AKM THEATER HALL

‘Winterreise’ (Winter Journey), a 24-part poem cycle composed for voice and piano by Austrian composer Franz Schubert and written by German poet Wilhelm Müller, is brought to the stage with the interpretation of the Modern Dance Ensemble Istanbul. In the work, which tells of a dramatic journey that begins with the poet realizing that his beloved has fallen in love with someone else, Deniz Özaydın, Evrim Akyay, Emre Karaca, Huri Murphy, İsmet Köroğlu, Mert Öztekin, and Tuğçe Göncü serve as choreographers. The libretto and direction of the work belong to Mert Öztekin.

AYDINLIKEVLER

MARCH 5- 20.30- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The play ‘Aydınlıkevler’, written by Yılmaz Erdoğan after a 20-year hiatus, will meet theater lovers at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall. Directed by Serdar Biliş, the play stars Salih Bademci and Demet Akbağ.

‘Aydınlıkevler’, which also features Burak Dakak, Sinem Ünsal, Nebi Tolga Yılmaz, Sevda Baş, Barkın Sarp, Ömer Güneş, and Zeynep Kiraz Tosun, will appear before theater lovers at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall on Tuesday, March 5, at 20:30.

FOLK SONG EVENING- ISTANBUL STATE TURKISH FOLK MUSIC CHOIR

MARCH 6- 19.00 AKM MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The Istanbul State Turkish Folk Music Choir's ‘Folk Song Evening’ concert will meet its audience on March 6 at 19:00 at the AKM Multipurpose Hall. In the concert, a repertoire selected from various regions of Anatolia will be performed by Nuray Tutuş and Emirhan Kartal.

DEVRAN- KIYAM- SUFI WISDOM AND MEYDAN MEŞKLERİ ENSEMBLE

MARCH 7- 20.00- AKM THEATER HALL

The Sufi Wisdom and Meydan Meşkleri Ensemble, which performs the Sufi culture and ceremonies that have reached us from our ancient culture and are on the verge of being forgotten in accordance with their methods and traditions, will meet the audience at the Atatürk Cultural Center Theater Hall on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 20:00 with ‘Devran- Kıyam’, narrated by Postnişin Fatih Çıtlak and directed by Art Director Yüce Gümüş.

GISELLE- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET

MARCH 7- 20:00- MARCH 9- 16.00- MARCH 13- 20.00- MARCH 20- 20.00 and MARCH 28- 20.00 TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The ballet ‘Giselle’, which has been watched with great interest at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall since the beginning of the season, will continue to meet art lovers on March 7, 9, 13, 20, and 28.

‘Giselle’, whose subject is taken from the Legend of the Wilis described by German poet Heinrich Heine in his book ‘On Germany’, is considered one of the most important works of ballet with the choreography of Jean Coralli-Jules Perrot-Marius Petipa set to the music of French composer Adolphe Adam (1803-1856).

The ballet ‘Giselle’, which deals with rural life and the extraordinary world together, emphasizes the sublimity of love and the indispensability of passion, and is full of supernatural elements, tells the tragic and romantic story of a young, beautiful, and shy peasant girl named Giselle who loves to dance, and Count Albrecht, who introduces himself to her as a farmer named ‘Loys’ and is madly in love with Giselle.

FROM REGION TO REGION – ISTANBUL STATE MODERN FOLK MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MARCH 7- 19.00- MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The Istanbul State Modern Folk Music Ensemble's ‘From Region to Region’ concert, where they will present regional ethnic music sung in various regions of Turkey in a polyphonic manner, will meet music lovers on March 7 at 19:00 at the AKM Multipurpose Hall. The soloists of the concert, conducted by Bora Kayalar, are Serhan Çekem, Nuran Duygulu, Duygu Koçak Sezer, Menşule Palalı, Yüksel Dilibal, and Ayşe Engin.

YOLCA ‘MUSICAL DERVISH TALES’ SUFI AND MEYDAN MEŞKLERİ ENSEMBLE

MARCH 8- 19.00- MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The Sufi, Wisdom, and Meydan Meşkleri Ensemble will leave a pleasant echo for the audience with the stories and musical structure of the play Yolca ‘Musical Dervish Tales’, which focuses on the rich culture of Anatolia and the great figures of this land, on Thursday, March 8, at 19:00 at the Atatürk Cultural Center Multipurpose Hall.

SENEYE BUGÜN- ISTANBUL STATE THEATER

MARCH 8- 20:00- MARCH 9- 20.00 and MARCH 10- 15.00- AKM THEATER HALL

The Istanbul State Theater is bringing the play ‘Seneye Bugün’ (Same Time, Next Year), written by Bernard Slade and referred to as the most beautiful romantic comedy ever written in theater history, to the stage.

The play will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 8, 9, and 10. Directed by Celal Kadri Kınoğlu, the play stars Gerçek Alnıaçık and Celal Kadri Kınoğlu.

WOMEN'S DAY CONCERT- ISTANBUL STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DENİZBANK CONCERTS

MARCH 8- 20:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra will host Latvian accordion artist Ksenija Sidorova, who turned her accordion playing, which she started by learning from her grandmother, into a world-class career, at the International Women's Day concert. The artist will perform the ‘Accordion Concerto’ by Lithuanian composer Arturs Maskats.

In the second part of the concert, the orchestra, conducted by İbrahim Yazıcı, will feature works by P. I. Tchaikovsky.

FRAUENLIEBE UND LEBEN AND DICHTERLIEBE- COFFEE CONCERTS

MARCH 9- 11.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL LOWER FOYER

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will perform the works ‘Frauenliebe und leben’ (Op. 42) and ‘Dichterliebe’ (Op. 48), composed by Robert Schumann, described as the “most romantic of the Romantics” and written by Adelbert von Chamisso and Heinrich Heine, as part of the Coffee Concerts.

In the concert where soprano Anna Sirel Y. Etyemez and baritone Önay Günay will be on stage, pianist Efe Gerdanoğlu will interpret the works.

SERTAB ERENER

MARCH 10- 20.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

Star artist of Turkish music Sertab Erener will bring her beloved songs from the past to the present to her listeners on March 10 at 20:00 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

OUR NATIONAL MUSIC ‘ULVİ CEMAL ERKİN’- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET

MARCH 12- 20:00- AKM THEATER HALL

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will host a special concert consisting of works by Republican Era composer Ulvi Cemal Erkin on Tuesday, March 12, at 20:00 at the AKM Theater Hall as part of the ‘Our National Music’ concert series. In the concert, Kenan Dağaşan will play bass, Murat Erginol and Bora Gökay violin, Verda Gül viola, Burak Ayrançı cello, and Hüseyin Kaya piano.

FILM ON THE STAGE

MARCH 12- 20:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

'Film on the Stage', which will be staged at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall on March 12, will bring stage adaptations of unforgettable works of cinema history to its audience. In the performance directed by Ersin Ayhan, Melis Kızılaslan, Zeynep Burcu Altınel, and Doruk Ören will sing unforgettable film songs. With choreography by Galip Emre, elite dancers will reenact film scenes.

RAMADAN IN ISTANBUL- GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF FINE ARTS ARTISTS

MARCH 13- 21:00- AKM THEATER HALL

This special event for the month of Ramadan, which will take place with the participation of fine arts choirs and ensembles in Istanbul, will be presented to the audience at the AKM Theater Hall with Istanbul folk songs, hymns, mehter marches, fasıl music, and folk dances. Ömer Faruk Belviranlı, Halil Altıngöz, Ufuk Yürüç, Murat Irkılata, Dilek Türkan, Hamdiye Efeoğlu, Seher Çelik, and Şennur Dinleyen will take the stage as soloists in the concert.

EXPLANATORY MUSIC HOUR ‘BAYATİ’- PRESIDENTIAL CLASSICAL TURKISH MUSIC CHOIR

MARCH 13- 19.00- MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The Presidential Classical Turkish Music Choir focuses on the Bayâtî maqam in its program. The event, where important examples of the repertoire belonging to the maqam will be performed, will provide an opportunity for those learning Turkish music and music enthusiasts to practice. The event, where cultural information about the works and composers discussed will be conveyed, not just for performance, will be an interactive workshop with the participation of young vocal and instrumental artists learning Turkish music. The narrator of the program will be Hüseyin Kıyak, and the director will be M. Hulusi Yücebıyık.

DON GIOVANNI- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET

MARCH 14- 20:00 and MARCH 16- 16:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The opera ‘Don Giovanni’, composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet, meets the audience at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall on March 14-16. The opera, described as a black comedy with a libretto written by genius librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, was born from the combination of Mozart's genius with the best and worst of human nature, spiritual and worldly desires, comedy, and tragedy. In the work staged by Aytaç Manizade, the IDOB Orchestra is conducted by İbrahim Yazıcı. The decor design is by Efter Tunç, costume design by Serdar Başbuğ, and lighting design by Kemal Yiğitcan. The choir conductor of the work is Volkan Akkoç.

SEGAH KAR- ISTANBUL STATE TURKISH MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MARCH 14 – 19.00- AKM MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The ‘Segâh Kar’ concert, to be performed by the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble and conducted by Selim Güle, will meet the audience at the Atatürk Cultural Center Multipurpose Hall on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at 19:00.

OF MICE AND MEN- IZMIR STATE THEATER

MARCH 15- 20:30- MARCH 16- 20.30 and MARCH 17- 15.00- AKM THEATER HALL

John Steinbeck's famous work ‘Of Mice and Men’, which will be staged by the Izmir State Theater, will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 15-16-17. This theatrical experience, in which the author deeply examines human nature, presents slices from the lives of two opposite characters, George and Lennie. Arif Yavuz, Umut Kolburan, Cemalettin Çekmece, and Mustafa Turan will take the stage in the play directed by Gökhan Kocaoğlu.

TURKISH COMPOSERS- COFFEE CONCERTS

MARCH 16- 11.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL LOWER FOYER

In the March 16 program of the AKM's traditional Coffee Concerts series, a 30-minute selection consisting of works by three generations of Turkish composers will be presented in a narrated violin-piano concert. Erman Türkdili will be on violin and Elif Gökçe Türkdili on piano.

MEHTER CONCERT ON THE 109TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ÇANAKKALE VICTORY- ISTANBUL HISTORICAL TURKISH MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MARCH 18- 21:00- AKM THEATER HALL

The Mehter section of the Istanbul Historical Turkish Music Ensemble of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Directorate of Fine Arts, under the direction of Mehterbaşı Şükrü Alkan, will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 18 at 21:00 with marches, heroic folk songs, and hymns that also cover the month of Ramadan, while commemorating all our martyrs who gave their lives to make these lands a homeland on the 109th anniversary of the Çanakkale Victory.

MAGIC LAMP- FAMILY AND CHILDREN

MARCH 19- 13.00 AND 15.00- MARCH 20- 13.00 AND 15.00- AKM MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The play adapted from the ‘Magic Lamp’ story, which blends and adapts Danish author Andersen's story ‘Thumbelina’ and ‘Aladdin's Magic Lamp’, will meet its little audience at the AKM Multipurpose Hall on March 19-20. The play is about the adventure that begins with Hacivat asking Karagöz to clean a lamp that he does not know is magic.

ÇANAKKALE VICTORY CONCERT- ISTANBUL STATE TURKISH MUSIC ENSEMBLE

MARCH 21- 19.00- MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The ‘Çanakkale Victory Concert’, which will be performed by the Istanbul State Turkish Music Ensemble and conducted by Ferruh Yarkın, will meet its audience at the AKM Multipurpose Hall on March 21.

FAUST- ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET

MARCH 21- 20.00- MARCH 23- 16:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

Gounod's masterpiece ‘Faust’ will be staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall on March 21-23. The libretto of the masterpiece ‘Faust’ opera by French composer Charles-François Gounod, adapted from the work of the same name by German author J. W. Goethe, belongs to Jules Paul Barbier and Michel Florentin Carré.

BELLA FIGURA- ISTANBUL STATE THEATER

MARCH 22- 20.30- MARCH 23- 20.30- AKM THEATER HALL

The Istanbul State Theater will stage the play ‘Bella Figura’, written by Yasmina Reza, at the AKM Theater Hall on March 22 and 23 at 20:30. A man (Boris), who comes to a luxury restaurant to have a tryst with his lover (Andrea), hits the mother-in-law (Yvonne) of his wife's closest friend (Françoises) with his car. Thus, Boris and Andrea find themselves in a troubled night where they have to spend time with the rest of the family who have gathered for Yvonne's birthday. Directed by Hakan Çimenser, the cast of the play includes Ebru Şatıroğlu, Eray Cezayirlioğlu, Aral Seskir, Ebru Kaymakçı, Gönen Aykaç, and Evrim Feyza Geboloğlu.

RICHARD

MARCH 24- 15:00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The play ‘Richard’, written and directed by Okan Bayülgen, will meet art lovers at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall on March 24, 2024, at 15:00. Bayülgen opens Shakespeare's dramatization of Richard to discussion. While discussing being a foreigner, loneliness, and becoming savage, an imaginary theater company performs Shakespeare's Richard III again.

IN MEMORY OF SUZNAK RAHMİ BEY, ŞEHZADE SEYFEDDİN EFENDİ, AND HASİB DEDE- PRESIDENTIAL CLASSICAL TURKISH MUSIC CHOIR

MARCH 24- 11:30- AKM THEATER HALL

The Presidential Classical Turkish Music Choir dedicates its March concert to the memories of three great composers. The first part of the concert consists of Sûznâk, one of the ancient maqams of Turkish music history. In the instrumental section of the concert, where soloist Aynur Ezgi Yüksel will take the stage with neoclassical period works, works by Sultan Abdülaziz's youngest son, Şehzade Seyfeddin Efendi, on the 150th anniversary of his birth, and Hasib Dede, on the 125th anniversary of his birth, will be performed. The choir, under the direction of Mehmet Güntekin, will perform works by Rahmi Bey, one of the greatest song composers of Turkish music, in the last part of the concert in memory of the 100th anniversary of his death.

EQUUS

MARCH 24- 20.00- AKM THEATER HALL

The Tony Award-winning masterpiece ‘Equus’, which Amadeus playwright Peter Shaffer wrote by fictionalizing it based on a true story and which was staged 1,200 times on Broadway, will be staged under the direction of Barış Erdenk. The play, starring Kerem Alışık, Emir Özden, Hatice Aslan, Devrim Nas, Açelya Devrim Yılhan, and Gizem Katmer, will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 24.

‘Equus’ tells the story of 17-year-old Alan Strang (Emir Özden), who is hospitalized due to a terrible incident he committed while being a slave to his passions, and the psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Kerem Alışık), who analyzes and tries to heal him.

ACCADEMIA BIZANTINA

MARCH 26- 20.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

Accademia Bizantina celebrates its 40th Anniversary at the Istanbul Atatürk Cultural Center on March 26 at 20:00 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall. The baroque music group, which has a Grammy nomination and many prestigious awards, draws attention with their performances under the leadership of harpsichordist Ottavio Dantone.

IRFANİ FOLK SONGS- ISTANBUL STATE TURKISH FOLK MUSIC CHOIR

MARCH 26- 21.00- AKM THEATER HALL

The ‘İrfani Folk Songs’ recital, which will take place under the direction of Uğur Kaya, will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 26.

RAMADAN MONTH SUFI CONCERT- ISTANBUL STATE TURKISH MUSIC RESEARCH AND APPLICATION ENSEMBLE

MARCH 27- 21.00 AKM THEATER HALL

The ‘Ramadan Month Sufi Concert’, where Sufi works such as hymns, nefes, suğul, and kaside will be performed by the Istanbul State Turkish Music Research and Application Ensemble, will meet the audience at the AKM Theater Hall on March 27 at 21:00.

GALA CONCERT ISTANBUL STATE OPERA AND BALLET

MARCH 30- 20.00- TÜRK TELEKOM OPERA HALL

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will meet art lovers at the ‘Giuseppe Verdi & Richard Wagner’ Gala Concert. In the concert where the contrasts and common points of Giuseppe Verdi, known as the father of Italian opera, and Richard Wagner, referred to as the greatest composer of German opera literature, meet, the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet Orchestra is conducted by Conductor İbrahim Yazıcı.

The choir conductor is Paolo Villa. Soloists; Caner Akgün, Caner Akın, Göktuğ Alpaşar, Aylin Ateş, Sevim Ateş, Perihan N. Artan, N. Işık Belen, Nesrin Gönüldağ, Önay Günay, Yoel Keşap, Otilia İpek, Şebnem Ağrıdağ Kışlalı, Efe Kışlalı, Nurdan Küçükekmekçi, Anıl Önder, Bahadır Özkoca, and Ufuk Toker will be on stage for this special concert.

‘ORNAMENT’ EXHIBITION- DEDICATED TO MARCH 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

MARCH 8-31, 2024- AKM GALLERY

The exhibition titled ‘Ornament’, which will be held at the AKM Gallery between March 8-31, 2024, was prepared specifically for March 8 International Women's Day. The exhibition addresses the dimension of meaning in the female face by focusing on women's role in society, their identity formation processes, and the struggle of working women who challenge patriarchal norms.

The exhibition, which includes works from different art disciplines, aims to offer a surprising experience by focusing on the balance between men and women, women's place in society, and the handling of the concept of woman from different angles.

COLORFUL COLORLESS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION- AYŞEGÜL EKİN ODABAŞI

FEBRUARY 21- MARCH 4, 2024- AKM MULTIPURPOSE HALL

The photography exhibition titled ‘Colorful Colorless’, which invites you to discover the spirit of Istanbul through the contrast of colors and black and white, meets art lovers at the AKM Multipurpose Hall between February 21 and March 4, 2024, with the original perspective of artist Ayşegül Ekin Odabaşı. The exhibition offers an original adventure where colorful and colorless worlds are intertwined, inspired by the lives of people living in places in Istanbul that are not very much in the spotlight.