Newsletters
The 54th Istanbul Music Festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) opened on Thursday evening at the Ataturk Cultural Center's Turk Telekom Opera Hall.
The festival, sponsored by Borusan Holding and held with the support of Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism, began with an opening ceremony hosted by actor Yetkin Dikinciler. During the ceremony, the IKSV presented a plaque of appreciation to Borusan Group CEO Ozgur Gunaydin on behalf of Borusan Holding, the festival sponsor.
The festival's Honorary Award this year was presented to composer Turgay Erdener by IKSV Chair Bulent Eczacibasi. The 2025 Aydin Gun Encouragement Award, which supports young talents in classical music, was given to young conductor, composer and violinist Kerem Tuncer by IKSV Deputy General Manager Yesim Gurer Oymak.
In his opening remarks, Eczacibasi said the IKSV has carried on the festival without interruption since 1973 and is presenting this year's edition under the theme "In the Moment."
He said the festival would bring together 22 concerts, workshops and talks, while also hosting three world premieres. The program will spread across major concert halls such as the Ataturk Cultural Center and the Sureyya Opera House, as well as public and historic venues including the Yildiz Park, the Yogurtcu Park and the Grand Bazaar.
Eczacibasi thanked the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, public institutions, Borusan Holding, private supporters, Lale Kart members and audiences, saying composers and musicians add meaning to every moment of life.
Speaking after receiving the appreciation plaque, Gunaydin said the Istanbul Music Festival was one of the city's most special cultural events.
He said Borusan was honored to support the festival once again in its 54th year under the motto "This City Lives with Music." Gunaydin also underlined that the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra would continue one of the festival's most cherished traditions with its June 16 concert, "BIFO: Morricone—The Voice of Cinema," which will bring well-known film music to the stage.
He said Istanbul itself acts as a stage during the festival, with different parts of the city taking on different stories and rhythms.
The opening concert was performed by Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov and the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Aziz Shokhakimov, with support from the Tekfen Foundation.
The program focused on two major figures of Russian classical music. Abduraimov performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, one of the works that helped establish the composer's international reputation. The orchestra also performed the suite from Stravinsky's ballet The Firebird, a work that played a major role in bringing Stravinsky global recognition.
The 54th Istanbul Music Festival will run until June 25, bringing 23 concerts to some of Istanbul's leading halls and special venues.
This year's program features more than 80 artists and ensembles from around the world. Participating groups include the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Kammerakademie Potsdam, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tekfen Philharmonic Orchestra and CCN/Aterballetto.
Soloists and performers in the program include Bruce Liu, Kian Soltani, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, Behzod Abduraimov, Ian Bostridge, Iestyn Davies and Sara Correia.
The festival is supported by several public institutions, cultural partners and private sponsors, with Ataturk Cultural Center also providing venue support.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
