Mersin Music Festival launches program

MERSİN – Anadolu Agency

Pumeza Matshikiza

The 17th Mersin International Music Festival will be organized between April 14 and May 8 in the southern province of Mersin. 

At a press conference held on March 12, the head of the festival committee Selma Yağcı said the event will once again host many artists and choirs from Turkey and abroad this year. 

“A composition contest and the Nevit Kodallı Choirs Festivity will once again be among the festival events. Dozens of choirs from various parts of Turkey will be hosted in the city for two days. This year’s composition contest will be dedicated to the ancient city of Kanlıdivane, which is a rare habitat in the world for the butterfly population. The theme will be ‘Mersin is looking for melody for its butterflies’ and the finalists of the contest will be given 10,000 Turkish Liras,” Yağcı said. 

This year’s festival will feature a total of 11 events, including two open air events.
The festival will open on April 14 with a concert by South African soprano Pumeza Matshikiza and Turkish tenor Murat Karahan to be accompanied by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet (MDOB). The concert will be conducted by Antonio Pirolli. 

The German Salut Salon Quartet, Spanish flamenco group Rojas Y Rodriguez, and Iranian-U.S. jazz music band Niyaz will be among the performers. 

The event will end on May 8 with a concert by pianist Rüya Taner, maestro Tarık Tal and soloist Gökçe Nur Semerci. That concert will be accompanied by the Land Forces Command Harmonica Band.