Cultural event held in Istanbul, Turkey
The
Istanbul International Music Festival
, formerly
Istanbul Festival
, (
Turkish
:
Uluslararası ?stanbul Muzik Festivali
) is a cultural event held every June and July in
Istanbul
,
Turkey
.
[1]
It offers a selection of
European classical music
,
ballet
,
opera
and
traditional music
performances with the participations of famous artists from all over the world. The festival was first held in 1973 and is organized by the Istanbul Foundation of Culture and Arts.
[2]
In 2006,
Borusan Holding
took over its main sponsorship from
Eczacıba?ı Holding
.
[3]
[4]
The festival was the idea of the late Turkish businessman Dr.
Nejat Eczacıba?ı
. The first Istanbul Festival was held from June 15 to July 15, 1973, on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the
Republic of Turkey
. From its first inception, the Istanbul Festival has aimed at including in its programs the finest examples of artistic creativity in all disciplines of art from both Turkey and abroad, as well as seminars, conferences and lectures. So, other festivals dedicated to
film
(1984),
jazz
(1986),
contemporary art
(1987) and
theater
(1989) were added to the program of Istanbul Festival. From 1994 on, the name was changed to Istanbul International Music Festival to distinguish it from the other sister festivals. It is accredited as a member of
European Festivals Association
since 1977.
[5]
In 2014, a project title "Istanbul Music Festival Seeks Its Young Soloist" (
Turkish
:
?stanbul Muzik Festivali Genc Solistini Arıyor
) was started to promote talented young musicians.
[6]
From its beginning, the festival hosted world-renowned artists and groups from
La Scala Philharmonic
(
Riccardo Muti
),
New York Philharmonic
(
Kurt Masur
and
Zubin Mehta
),
Berlin Philharmonic
to
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
(
Wolfgang Sawallisch
),
Dresden Staatskapelle
and the soloists, orchestra and chorus of the
Mariinsky Theatre
(
Kirov Opera
), from
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
(
Gidon Kremer
)
[2]
to
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
(
Charles Mackerras
and
Richard Hickox
), from
Tokyo String Quartet
to
Hilliard Ensemble
, from
Aldo Ciccolini
to
Ivo Pogorelich
, from
Yehudi Menuhin
to
Itzhak Perlman
, from
Julian Lloyd Webber
to
Mischa Maisky
, from
Narciso Yepes
to
Christopher Parkening
, from
Leyla Gencer
to
Montserrat Caballe
and
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
, from
Bolshoi Ballet
to
American Ballet Theatre
and to
Mark Morris
,
Mehmet Sander
,
Kibbutz dance companies
; and such traditional music groups as
Istanbul Oriental Ensemble
of
Burhan Ocal
,
Kudsi Erguner
’s Tac Mahal project and
Whirling Dervishes
. The 31st festival saw the prominent conductor
Lorin Maazel
with the
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
and a legend of the music world,
Cecilia Bartoli
, who received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience for several minutes.
The festival venues include
Galata Mevlevihanesi
,
Istanbul University
Rectorate Building,
Istanbul Modern
and
Santralistanbul Energy Museum
,
Zorlu Center PSM
and
Bo?azici University
Albert Long Hall in addition the
Hagia Eirene Museum
,
Archaeological Museum
,
Tiled Kiosk
,
Sureyya Opera House
and
Lutfi Kırdar Convention and Exhibition Center
.
[2]
[3]
[4]
According to a famed international musicologist, the Festival bridges cultural and religious divisions.
[7]
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
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]