Tuluyhan Uğurlu to depict Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Tuluyhan Uğurlu will take the stage at Virgin Mary Church Complex Mesrop Mutafyan Culture Center in Istanbul’s historical neighborhood of Kumpkapı.

Turkey’s world renowned pianist Tuluyhan Uğurlu, who depicts various special places of Istanbul’s musically as part of his project “Istanbul, A World Capital,” has so far performed more than 300 concerts.

This time Uğurlu will take the stage at Kumkapı Virgin Mary Church Complex Mesrop Mutafyan Culture Center on Feb. 23 and 24. In the historical concert venue, reached after a delightful stroll through Kumkapı’s side streets where authentic Ottoman houses tower above, guests will be served treats during the concert.

The project is a dynamic one that is renewed each time according to the neighborhood and venue where it is performed. The city’s forgotten, unknown or underestimated neighborhoods are depicted in each concert.

The project, “Istanbul, a World Capital” was released as an album in Turkey and throughout the world in March 2006, quickly becoming a classic work of modern art by Uğurlu.

When depicting Istanbul in his work, the pianist starts off with the words of Napoleon Bonaparte, “If there was only one country in the world, its capital would be Istanbul.” He moves on to reflect the city’s 3,000 years of history from the perspective of the 2000s.

In the album Uğurlu departs from his classical sound and makes modern attempts as he believes that Istanbul, which is one of the largest metropolis cities in the world, can be depicted with such diversity and in a modern approach.

Century-old church

The history of the Kumkapı Virgin Mary Church Complex Mesrop Mutafyan Culture Center dates back to 1800s. The church served as a depot during World War I and a chain and rope factory in 1940s. The historical structure, which was later on abandoned, began serving again as a church and culture center on Dec. 28, 2011, after an official religious ceremony launched the opening within the scope of the Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture festival.

In the concert, Uğurlu will be accompanied by Murat Toraman in reed, Doğukan Çokşeker in viola, Uğur Varol on stringed drum and electro guitar and Umut Sel in counter bass. The pianist will also accompany tenor Adruşan Kirkor Halaçyan in one part of the concert. A visual presentation of Istanbul will also be on screen during the concert.