International Istanbul Music Festival Starts

"Istanbul's Music Festival is the world's most impressive fusion of eastern and western culture," wrote Mary Miller of Scotsman in 1996.

This year, the International Istanbul Music Festival is bringing together celebrated artists from all over the world for the 30th time.

The Festival, which will commence with a "30th Anniversary Concert," will offer a variety of performances ranging from the concerts by famous orchestras, world-renowned soloists to traditional music concerts.

The Istanbul International Music Festival, which has staged the world's most celebrated performers of classical music, pop, jazz, rock, opera, folk music, ballet and modern dance for the last 30 years, will begin on June 8.

Repin, Vogt, Kan

The Festival will bring together the talents of many Turkish and foreign performers like violinist Vadim Repin, world-famous soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, conductor Paavo Berglund , pianists Lars Vogt, Idil Biret and Suna Kan, Gidon Kremer with "Tango Operita", the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir, the Violins of the Berlin Philharmonic, and many others.

The International Istanbul Music Festival, which will go on till July 1, will stage 23 events including three orchestral concerts, six chamber orchestra concerts, two of which are with a chorus, five recitals, two traditional music concerts and one choral concert.

The performances will be staged in dramatic settings such as the 4th century church of Hagia Eireni built by Emperor Constantine as Constantinople's (Istanbul) first church.

One of the most interesting performances of the Festival is expected to be the traditional music performance entitled "From Divan to Parliament, Our Composer Statesmen," which includes works by sultans and statesmen both from the Ottoman and the Republican periods.

On the 8th of June, the city of Istanbul will be enlivened once again with the unique International Music Festival! (EA/NM)

* For more information on the Festival please visit http://www.istfest.org