Teenage violinist lands plaudits

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

14 year-old violinist Berfin Aksu played Say’s work in the Frankfurt concert.

Turkey’s world renowned pianist and composer Fazıl Say’s violin concerto “1001 Nights in the Harem” was performed by 14 year-old Turkish violin artist Berfin Aksu on June 20 in Germany.

Moldovan violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja was expected to take the stage in the concert, but after she fell sick Aksu appeared on the stage at the Frankfurt Concert Hall.

Aksu was accompanied by the Brandenburg State Orchestra under the baton of Howard Griffiths. She was acclaimed by the German press after the concert and was called one of the world’s most promising young violinists. Meanwhile, Say will give the world premiere of his work “Mesopotamia,” composed for the 40th anniversary of the ongoing Istanbul Music Festival, on June 23 at the Haliç Congress Center.

He will appear on the stage of the Istanbul Music Festival as a composer and performer after eight years away from the festival, said the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) in a written statement. Say will be accompanied at the concert by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra.