Turkey’s Presidential Symphony Orchestra draws music lovers in Istanbul

By Rabia Iclal Turan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) performed Sunday at Istanbul’s Ataturk Cultural Center accompanied by world-renowned Russian balalaika player Andrey Gorbachev.

Known as one of the masters of the balalaika, a Russian stringed musical instrument with a characteristic triangular wooden hollow body, fretted neck and three strings, Gorbachev has also worked as a teacher at prominent music academies in Russia. He has written 10 books on music and 30 articles which have been published in professional journals.

The Turkish Presidential Symphony Orchestra -- the country’s flagship orchestra, with a history of 150 years -- has performed hundreds of concerts.

Hundreds of classical music lovers attended the concert at the Ataturk Cultural Center, which reopened on Oct. 29 after years of reconstruction.