Side Festival opens with Mozart and Strauss tunes

ISTANBUL

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra is the concert orchestra of the Austrian capital and is one of the most prominent musical institutions in the city. Orchestra makes 160 appearances every year.

The Side International Arts and Culture Festival in Antalya opened on Sept. 3 with a much-anticipated concert by the Vienna Classical Orchestra and Ballet, delighting spectators with performances of Mozart and Strauss.

Side Mayor Kadir Uçar spoke before the concert, which was conducted by Mete Yalçın, saying Side had become a trademark city around the world thanks to its festivals and cultural life. The festival, which was launched in 2000 by Side Municipality and its mayor, Uçar, has been hailed as one of the most prestigious festivals in the world. The event is a member of the Europe Festivals Association (EFA).

Vienna Orchestra

The Vienna Symphony Orchestra is the concert orchestra of the Austrian capital and is one of the most prominent musical institutions in the city. The orchestra makes approximately 160 appearances every year with concerts and opera performances, while numerous tours are undertaken throughout Europe and elsewhere. 

The orchestra was formed in 1900 under the name of the Vienna Concert Society. During World War I, the orchestra was saved from being disbanded thanks to a merger with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, founded in 1913. In the years following 1945, thanks to the efforts of the Principal Conductor Hans Swarowsky and Josef Krips, the orchestra was rebuilt. 

The orchestra has been conducted by many renowned personalities, including Bruno Walter, Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwaengler, Oswald Kabasta, George Szell, Hans Knappertsbusch, Herbert von Karajan, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Carlo Maria Giulini, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, George Prêtre, Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado, Sergiu Celibidache and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. From 1997 until the end of 2004, the principal conductor was Vladimir Fedoseyev. Since the 2005-2006 concert season, the post has been filled by Fabio Luisi. Additionally, Yakov Kreizberg has been principal guest conductor since October 2003.

An exclusive program for the festival

The festival continues until Sept. 14, hosting the Enbe Orchestra, Aylin Aslım, Tuncay Kayış and the Golden Trombon Orchestra. The closing of the festival will be made by the Antalya State Opera and Ballet together with conductor Antonio Pirolli, soprano Elvira Fatihova, soprano Aylin Ateş, mezzo-soprano Leonardo Caimi and tenor Tuncay Kurtoğlu. All the events are free of charge.

Earlier, Uçar also said the festival would help further promote Side, in which many archaeological discoveries have been made, to tourists as more than a place for historical sightseeing and quick dips in the Mediterranean.

With this festival, Side will increase its prestigious place in terms of tourism, according to Uçar. “The festival’s closing concert will be given by the Antalya Festival Orchestra. The orchestra consists of domestic and foreign performers,” he said. 

During the evening, meanwhile, Uçar also criticized a recent administrative decision to close district municipalities.