Bodrum hosts international artists

MUĞLA

The Aegean province of Muğla’s popular tourist city of Bodrum is simultaneously hosting three different international music and art events, prompting many to call it the “city of festivals” in recent years.

Music and art events organized in different parts of the city have been drawing many local and foreign tourists. 

The events are taking place at the Bodrum Ancient Theater, Bodrum Stone Pit and Turgutreis D-Marin yacht club. 

Gülsin Onay, an art consultant for the International Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival and a state artist, said she will be on stage on Aug. 10 at the ancient stone pit.

“I and Alexander Markov will present a different program. There will be Beethoven in the beginning of the event and Johannes Brahms in the end. There will also be virtuoso too during the event,” she told state-run Anadolu Agency. 

She said world-famous artists will perform at the festival. “Konrad Richter, Shaun Choo, Fora Baltacıgil, Oran Etkin, Dilbağ Tokay, Bülent Evcil and others will be on stage during the festival. I received the honorary award of the 14th Bodrum Music Festival and I am proud of it. The Bodrum Ballet Festival is extraordinary, too. I can say that Bodrum has become a home for art and music garden. Three festivals are organized at the same time with international artists. I hope there will be more of such events in our country.” 

Tuğçe Tez, an art consultant for the festival, said Bodrum was one of the most popular places for tourism. 

“We start the preparations for festivals one year ahead. While choosing the artists, we work on bringing names that excite our audiences. People who come to Bodrum for their holidays soak up arts and music too this way,” she said. 

Tez said they prioritize Turkish musicians like composer Fazıl Say and Onay in the festival. 

Hüsmü Akhan, a Doğuş Holding official, said Bodrum was no different that Salzburg, New Orleans and Sanremo, which are known for having organized music festivals for almost half a century. Hundreds of thousands of tourists have attended these festivals, he said. 

State Opera and Ballet (DOB) deputy director Solmaz Haberal said they organized the 16th Bodrum Ballet Festival for the first time at the Bodrum Ancient Theater.