Turkish presidential orchestra seeks to hold series of summer concerts

By Faruk Zorlu

ANKARA (AA) - Among the most distinguished orchestras in the world since its foundation in 1826, Turkey’s Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) seeks to hold a series of concerts with in-person audiences in the summer season across Turkey.

As part of the 2021 Summer Concerts, initiated by Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry in the summer season, Turkey’s flagship orchestra is excited to meet with music lovers as of July at the CSO Concert Hall and across Turkey with its live, and virtual performance, and recordings by taking all health measures.

"We want to perform concerts with in-person audiences in July in line with the circular of Turkey's health, and culture and tourism ministries,” CSO's General Music Director Cemi'i Can Deliorman told Anadolu Agency.

Even at half capacity, their main goal is to meet with music lovers in July by taking all health measures, Deliorman said.

Speaking on the impact of the COVID-19, Deliorman said: "By using digital facilities at the concert hall, CSO is one of the art communities that has never broken away from both its works and its audience, even during the pandemic period."

"We reached our audience with our records amid the pandemic. We have released over 90 records for educational projects. Additionally, we held numerous open-air concerts when the pandemic first started," he underlined.

He went on to say all members of the orchestra have been vaccinated and ready to appear in the concerts with in-person audiences.

After the inauguration of CSO's new building by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital Ankara, the hall opened its doors to art lovers on Dec. 3, 2020, with a concert conducted by Deliorman.

The building complex houses 2,023-seat Grand Hall, 500-seat Blue Hall, and 600-seat Historical Symphony Hall, which will be integrated shortly after its renovation.

The campus has restaurants, a museum, and open-air spaces, making the building a meeting place for art and culture lovers.

The hall is located in the heart of the city with a view of the historical Ankara Castle and Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

While the minimalist design language is enriched with coherent support of wood, glass, and concrete, the consultancy for acoustics was provided by Prof. W. Fasold in association with Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, according to CSO's website.

- 2021 Summer Concerts

The Culture and Tourism Ministry has launched a project to hold concerts after almost over one-year shutdown in the entertainment industry due to the pandemic.

As a part of the ministry's Summer Concert, "we planned to hold concerts in the cultural spots, including museums and ancient cities across Turkey. But sometimes, the events have to be rescheduled due to COVID-19," Deliorman said.

"Therefore, we have set out programs already and the events will be announced from our website and the Culture And Tourism Ministry's social media accounts," he added.

Along with a big concert tour throughout Turkey, the orchestra expects to continue to hold concerts in the capital Ankara, he stressed.

As a part of the ministry's summer project, choirs, ensembles, and orchestras are planned to perform at around 130 concerts in different cities, and museums across Turkey in June, July, and August.