Istanbul Music Festival Kicks Off with Awards Ceremony and Tekfen Philharmonic Concert

The Istanbul Music Festival opened its season with an awards ceremony and a concert by the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra. The event, hosted by Yetkin Dikinciler, celebrated the festival's continuation under the theme "Within the Moment." Bülent Eczacıbaşı, Chairman of the İKSV Board of Directors, emphasized the festival's long-standing tradition since 1973 and its role in fostering a deep connection with time and life through classical music.

During the ceremony, Eczacıbaşı presented an appreciation plaque to Özgür Günaydın, CEO of Borusan Group, on behalf of Borusan Holding. Turgay Erdener received this year's Honorary Award. Kerem Tunçer also accepted his award from Yeşim Gürer Oymak, Deputy General Director of İKSV.

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We are bringing this long-standing festival, which we have carried on uninterruptedly since 1973, to our audiences this year with the theme "Within the Moment." Classical music, which allows us to establish a deep connection with time and life, will be celebrated with 22 high-quality concerts, as well as exciting workshops and talks, and will host three world premieres.

Erdener, in his speech, underscored İKSV's significance as a pioneering organization for musicians. He recalled the 1973 premiere of Ahmet Adnan Saygun's opera "Köroğlu" at the festival's inception and noted that works like "Köroğlu" and "Gilgameş" had been neglected for decades. He expressed a desire for "Köroğlu" to be staged again, stressing the importance of showcasing Saygun's contributions to Turkish music and culture. Erdener also urged music lovers to support efforts for the routine publication of Turkish composers' scores.

The festival continued with a performance by the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by the Tekfen Foundation. Conducted by Aziz Shokhakimov, the orchestra accompanied Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov in Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 and performed Stravinsky's "The Firebird" suite. The orchestra also performed encores of Rachmaninoff's "Prelude" in G-flat major and Tchaikovsky's "Trepak" from "The Nutcracker" ballet. The festival will proceed with a performance by the CCN/Aterballetto dance company on June 13.

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İKSV is a very important, pioneering organization for musicians. In the first year of the festival, 1973, our pioneer Ahmet Adnan Saygun's Köroğlu Opera was staged. It hasn't been performed since then until today. Gilgameş was in even worse condition. But as a result of the DOB's efforts, last year, both Cemal Reşit Rey's Çelebi Opera, 40 years after its writing, and Saygun's Gilgameş Opera had their world premieres in Istanbul. Similarly, I want Köroğlu to be staged. I think this is a necessity. Because if music is to undertake the carrying of culture in Turkey, Saygun's efforts must absolutely be seen and performed appropriately.