Fazıl Say excites thousands with back-to-back concerts in Istanbul

ISTANBUL

The internationally acclaimed Turkish composer and pianist Fazıl Say performed on stage in two concerts on Dec. 23 at Istanbul’s Volkswagen Arena. Since tickets for the first concert had been sold out months ago, a second concert had been organized for the same day, in response to the great interest the event had received. Both concerts were attended by a total of around 10,000 people.

The Istanbul concerts featured his work “’Yürüyen Köşk’ Atatürk Anısına Opus 72” (“’The Walking Mansion’ in Memory of Atatürk Opus 72), a piece that was received very well by his fans.

Inspired by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s Walking Mansion in the northwestern province of Yalova, Say had composed the piece as a symphony. Its first premiere was in Ankara on Nov. 10, the death anniversary of Atatürk.

Appreciated for his attractive and powerful performance, Say said it was pleasing to come together with thousands of people and thanked his audiences. At the end of the concert, the pianist received a very long standing ovation.

There was an unusually different stage layout at the concerts. The piano was in the middle of the stage and the audience surrounded the instrument. 

Along with “Yürüyen Köşk,” Say performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano sonatas “Moonlight” and “The Storm,” Frederic Chopin’s “Nocturnes” and his own work “Kara Toprak.”