52nd Istanbul Music Festival to be held this year with the theme 'Roots'

The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival will meet music lovers on May 21 with the theme 'Roots'. Focusing on the 100th anniversary of the Turkey-Greece population exchange, this year's theme aims to convey the cultural and historical stories of this geography through music.

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52nd Istanbul Music Festival to be held this year with the theme 'Roots'

The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) and sponsored by Borusan Holding, will meet music lovers between May 21 and June 12.

The festival will host distinguished orchestras and prominent soloists from all over the world in 25 concerts to be held at Istanbul's concert venues.

In addition to important ensembles such as the Budapest Festival Orchestra, Festival Strings Lucerne, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, Mantova Chamber Orchestra, Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, Hungarian National Choir, and Borusan Quartet, over 60 artists including soloists such as Maria João Pires, Khatia Buniatishvili, Francesco Piemontesi, Jean-Guihen Queyras, István Várdai, Gülsin Onay, Edgar Moreau, Kristóf Baráti, and Roby Lakatos will meet the audience.

Within the scope of the program, the world premieres of four works, including three commissioned by the Istanbul Music Festival, and the Turkey premieres of two works will be performed.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL STORIES WILL BE CONVEYED

This year's theme, 'Roots', focuses on the 100th anniversary of the Turkey-Greece population exchange and aims to convey the cultural and historical stories of this geography through music.

The festival will also host Cultural Years events, where the 100th anniversary of relations with Hungary and the Netherlands will be celebrated. The program, which also includes special projects that bring classical music together with different genres, will feature star soloists and prestigious orchestras of the classical music world, as in every year.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO BE GIVEN TO STEVE REICH

The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival's Honorary Award will be presented to conductor Cem Mansur, who has played an important role in the classical music world for 40 years with his intense career in Turkey, Europe, and the UK, the orchestras he founded, and the opportunities he created for young people. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Steve Reich, who is considered one of the greatest living American composers.

WOMEN STARS OF TOMORROW

The Women Stars of Tomorrow series, supported by TSKB, will continue to provide a special platform for young people at the festival this year by offering education and performance opportunities to young female musicians and bringing them together with successful female artists. Disco Klasik, started by young people for young people, will also be in the festival program this year.

STOP ON THE MUSIC ROUTE: YENİKÖY

The stop on the music route this year will be Yeniköy. The route will start at the Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church and end at Palais Yeniköy after the Panayia Greek Orthodox Church.

WEEKEND CLASSICS

The festival's free weekend classics will invite music lovers, families, and children to the parks again this year.

'Pre-Concert Talks' will bring speakers from different disciplines together with the audience in conversations that will touch upon the themes of the concerts and the lives of the artists.

Students of music and vocal departments of conservatories will be able to follow the festival concerts for free this year as well. The Eczacıbaşı Young Ticket project, which was implemented with the support of the İKSV Founding Sponsor Eczacıbaşı Group, will continue this year.

FESTIVAL VENUES

Festival concerts will be held in 17 different venues: Atatürk Cultural Center, Austrian Cultural Office, Babylon, Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall, Naval Museum, Fenerbahçe Park, Four Seasons Bosphorus Atik Pasha Terrace, French Palace, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, İş Towers Hall, Kadıköy Municipality Süreyya Opera House, Grand Bazaar, Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Center, St. Antoine Church, Yeniköy Aya Yorgi Greek Orthodox Church, Yeniköy Panayia Greek Orthodox Church, and Yıldız Park.

TICKETS ON SALE FEBRUARY 20

Priority sales for Tulip Card members: Thursday, February 15 - Monday, February 19

General sales: Tuesday, February 20, 10.30

Festival tickets can be purchased with advantageous period prices at passo.com.tr, the Passo mobile application, Passo retail points, and the İKSV main box office (every day except Sunday between 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00).

News Source: 12punto