Ankara Music Festival opens

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The 34th Ankara Music Festival, organized by the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation, kicked off on April 4 with a concert by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) at the MEB Şura Hall in Ankara. 

To mark the 110th birth year of late composer Ahmet Adnan Saygun, who served as an adviser to the foundation’s executive board, the orchestra played his “Ayin Raksı” piece.  

The head of the foundation, Ali Başman, said the festival had been irreplaceable in Ankara for 33 years. 

He said the festival opened every year with a symphony orchestra concert organized in memory of the founder of the foundation, Cenap And. “Starting from this year, we decided to organize the concert in memory of our 28-year president Mehmet Akman Başman, who carried the foundation and the festival till today,” he added.  

Başman said they believed it was important to give an opportunity to young artists and bands as well as international names in the festival. 

Former Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his wife Semra Sezer; Özden Toker, the daughter of the second Turkish President İsmet İnönü, and his granddaughter; and Republican People’s Party (CHP) Ankara deputy Gülsün Bilgehan were among the guests of the opening event of the festival. 

The second concert at the festival will take place on April 12 by the Kyiv Soloists, one of the most important chamber music ensembles in Ukraine. 

The Kyiv Soloists have also been declared official cultural attachés of their country. The ensemble will be accompanied by violinist Valeriy Sokolov, a virtuoso soloist well-known for his outstanding technique and delicate performances. Sokolov is also one of the most famous alumni of the Yehudi Mehunin School.