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Music

Istanbul Music Festival

The Istanbul Music Festival is considered as the most
prestigious and established classical music event in Turkey.
Throughout its history of more than 40 years, it has played
a major role in building up an appreciation for classical
music in Istanbul and Turkey. Acclaimed nationally and
internationally with its creative programmes and innovative
structure, the festival strives to create opportunities for
artists to share their inspiration and artistic experience with
one another and contribute to the enrichment of the
national and international classical music repertoire.

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture Vengerov, Gidon Kremer, Joshua Bell, Hilary
and Arts, the first Istanbul Music Festival, the Hahn, Aldo Cicciolini, Daniel Barenboim, Radu
flagship of the Istanbul Festivals, took place Lupu, Lang Lang, Juan Diego Florez, Andre Previn,
between 15 June and 15 July 1973, originally under Jean-Pierre Rampal, Shlomo Mintz, Suna Kan, Ayla
the title “Istanbul Festival”. In its earlier years it has Erduran, İdil Biret and Hüseyin Sermet were among
included in its programmes the finest examples of the guests of the Istanbul Music Festival.
artistic creativity in diverse fields. In time, İKSV Outstanding dance companies such as the Martha
started to organise separate festivals and biennials in Graham Dance Company, Bolshoi Ballet, American
different fields, and during this process, the festival Ballet Theatre, Bejart Ballet, Nederlands Dans
was renamed “Istanbul Music Festival” in 1994. Theatre as well as Les Ballets de Montecarlo were
Since 1973, the Istanbul Festivals and Biennials are presented to music lovers in previous years.
proud to have become a joint platform for the local With its Lifetime Achievement Awards, Istanbul
and the universal, for past and present, and for the Music Festival also provides recognition to
role they have played in reinforcing such values as composers, judicious researchers, leading
respect for cultural diversity and freedom of conductors, innovatory and creative artists, people
expression in order to enrich dialogue between who made significant contributions to our cultural
societies and cultures regardless of race, ethnicity, heritage and whose projects reveal the unifying
religion or belief. power of music. Among the recipients of the
In its 43 years the Istanbul Music Festival hosted Lifetime Achievement Award are Leyla Gencer,
the most prestigious orchestras and ensembles such John Tavener, Arvo Pärt, Daniel Barenboim, Zubin
as Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Mehta, Gidon Kremer, Krzysztof Penderecki, and
New York Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, José Antonio Abreu.
Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Istanbul Music Festival also aims to enrich the
Orchestra, Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, contemporary music repertoire by regularly
Orchestre de Paris, Filarmonica della Scala, commissioning new works both to internationally
Philharmonia Orchestra, Kirov Opera and Ballet established composers as well as to young and
with such renowned conductors such as Pierre upcoming ones since 2011. Since then, the festival
Boulez, Kurt Masur, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, has been the platform for world premieres of Arvo
Simon Rattle, Pärt, Giya Kancheli, Peteris Vasks, Alexander
Mariss Jansons, Raskatov, Fazıl Say, and Tigran Mansurian’s new
Daniel works.
Barenboim, Being the oldest of the Istanbul Festivals, which
Christoph became landmarks of cultural life in Turkey, the
Eschenbach, Istanbul Music Festival has also earned a reputation
Yuri for its major role in encouraging research in
Temirkanov, musicology and in launching special projects on
Valery Gergiev, Gustavo Dudamel, William shared cultural values through its productions.
Christie, to name a few. From the day it was established until 2000, the
A distinguished line-up of international soloists directorship of the Istanbul Music Festival had been
such as Elizabeth Scwarzkopf, Kiri Te Kanawa, undertaken by Cevza Aktüze, followed by Ahmet
Kathleen Battle, Cecilia Bartoli, Montserrat Caballé, Erenli until 2006. Yeşim Gürer Oymak is the
Renée Fleming, Itzhak Perlman, Anne Sophie director of the festival since 2006.
Mutter, Renaud Capuçon, Gautier Capuçon, Fazıl The Istanbul Music Festival is a member of
Say, Yehudi Menuhin, Mischa Maisky, Maxim European Festival Association since 1977.

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