Colombian conductor featured in special Turkish Presidential Orchestra concert

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Türkiye’s Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) on Wednesday night will feature famed Colombian conductor Felipe Aguirre at the baton.

With a special repertoire focusing on Colombian folk music, the concert will be held in the Grand Hall of the orchestra’s ADA concert complex in the capital Ankara.

The repertoire will feature 13 Colombian songs, including well-known pieces Colombia Tierra Querida and Yo Me Llamo Cumbia.

The concert is being held under the banner of Traveling Around Colombia Through Music.

Saying that he is "very excited" to perform Colombian music in a symphonic version for a second time in Türkiye, Aguirre told Anadolu Agency that it is a "very special" experience to work with the Turkish orchestra because "although the countries are very (geographically) distant, the heart of the people, the soul of the people is very close."

He said the last time he was here was seven years ago, when he presided over a "quite similar" concert.

The conductor said that the audience should expect "very rhythmic music melodies that will bring them almost to dance together or along with the rhythm."

On the similarities between Turkish and Colombian music, he said that both are "very rhythmical, complex and interesting" while they differ in having different melodic patterns.

Aguirre said that all 13 of tonight’s pieces are like hymns for Colombians, songs from their childhood, adding that there are a couple of pieces that might be recognized by Turkish people.

On the songs Colombia Tierra Querida and Yo Me Llamo Cumbia, he said: "Both are Colombian, and both are I would say becoming well known abroad."

"Music is a language, we all know that. But it's very interesting that Colombian music is a very specific language, one that talks to everyone's heart and everyone's soul," the conductor said. "So I would be very happy if we, by sharing this music, can make people really get touched by this music and even if they want to dance or clap."

Eyeing future possible concerts and projects in Türkiye, he said that he is looking forward to seeing more collaborations between the Colombian Embassy and Presidential Symphony Orchestra so that more musicians have similar opportunities.

The concert will begin at 8 p.m. local time.