We started recording all Beethoven Violin Sonatas with pianist Cem Yılmaz
Together with my Hannover-born Turkish pianist friend Cem Yılmaz, we started a recording project of all Beethoven Violin & Piano Sonatas. We are going chronologically, firstly we recorded Sonatas No. 1 and 2 at Studio Tessmar in Hannover.
It is a first for me, because it is a Beethoven project in a "Turkish way". Apart from the light period bow I used, made by Basil de Visser, and gut strings, we are actually three Turks in these recordings: Me, Cem, and the violin maker Nurgül Çomak from Istanbul 😊
New CD: “Turkish Flavours” has been published
Violinist Alican Süner and pianist İris Şentürker perform the “Poème” by the Turkish composer Necil Kâzım Akses (1908-1999).
The complete CD “Turkish Flavours” has been published under Prospero label, and it’s also available on all digital platforms.
TURKISH FLAVOURS – 100 YEARS OF TURKISH SYMPHONIC MUSIC · HOWARD GRIFFITHS
Review: "Sinfonia concertante" with CRR Symphony Orchestra Istanbul
On March 16th, it was a big pleasure to perform Mozart's best-known work in the whole violin & viola duo repertoire, under the direction of Polish conductor Rafał Kłoczko (who also has a doctorate in musicology), and with the talented members of the CRR Symphony Orchestra in Istanbul.
In the second half, the orchestra performed Smetana's Má vlast.
I consider myself blessed and honored to have debuted with the “Sinfonia concertante” with dear Miguel da Silva, who was a founding member of the world-renowned Ysaÿe Quartet. We played the second movement of Mozart's Duo in G major as an encore. Miguel has a very, very personal sound and a deep musical personality. Because of our busy schedules, we could only catch a super early flight to Istanbul on the day of the concert, and immediately going into the dress rehearsal.
I was also happy to see some familiar faces in the audience: apart from many of my dear friends, musicologist Ersin Antep, journalist Evin İlyasoğlu and historian Prof. İlber Ortaylı were also among the audience.
Big thanks to the CRR members for the great performance and their Music Director Murat Cem Orhan, as well as everyone else involved for making this concert possible.
Trio Ran's debut in Istanbul receives standing ovations
On Feb 24th, our newly-formed piano trio featuring pianist İris Şentürker, cellist Çağ Erçağ, and myself, has made its very first concert at the beautiful hall of Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul. After some iterations, we settled on the name “Ran”, naming our trio after the great Turkish poet and intellectual Nazım Hikmet Ran (1902-1963).
We chose a nice program consisting of Schubert’s Piano Trio in E-flat Major, as well as Mendelssohn’s famed Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor.
Our next concert will be also in Istanbul- this time at the Süreyya Opera on April 1st, 2024. Stay tuned for a beautiful program consisting of Tchaikovsky and Beethoven’s trios.
My debut with Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra
It was a night of debuts: my first solo appearance with the Çukurova State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the esteemed Maestro İbrahim Yazıcı, and my first performance of Prokofiev’s 1st Violin Concerto. I’d be lying if I said I was not a bit nervous.
The concert was sold out days ago - many thanks to the amazing audience of Adana, as well as friends who traveled for hours from other cities for this concert.
We recorded Schubert and Sarasate with Karşıyaka Chamber Orchestra
Our concert with the Karşıyaka Chamber Orchestra on December 25th was canceled by the municipality (somewhat unexpectedly) due to the recent terrorist incidents. Nevertheless, the esteemed members of the orchestra showed great flexibility and we prepared and recorded the program as if it was a concert. Stay tuned for the final result of our collaboration.
Interview at the Turkish National Radio (TRT)
We joined Mrs. Karaman's show on Turkish State Radio with conductor Howard Griffiths.
Trio Ran makes its first recording at the Tonhalle Zürich
Our first successful recording at Tonhalle Zürich with our brand new piano trio consisting of İris Şentürker, one of the most sought-after piano soloists and chamber musicians of Turkey and Europe; Çağ Erçağ, solo cellist with the Istanbul Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra, and myself.
We first recorded Hasan Uçarsu’s trio called “Yok Zamanlar”, composed in 2009. Stay tuned for our future projects and concerts.
Recording session together with J. Trevelyan, H. Griffiths and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Had an amazing recording session with the amazing pianist Julian Trevelyan and our dear Howard Griffiths in Cardiff, UK. We did the very first recording of Cipriani Potter’s Duo Concertant with the wonderful BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
We’re looking forward to its release under the CPO label (where Howard is currently recording all Potter symphonies).
It was also my very first time visiting the UK - and I was fascinated by the country in every way. I am very much looking forward to going back soon to perform again.
Recital at the Palais de Rumine in Lausanne
I gave a solo violin recital during a conference at the Palais de Rumine in Lausanne, Switzerland (where the Treaty of Lausanne took place in 1923). The program consisted of works by Paganini, Ysaye and Fazıl Say.
The conference had been attended by many esteemed diplomats, academicians and musicians.
Happy Republic Day! To many more 100 years of the Turkish Republic. 🇹🇷
Our newly formed piano trio has started rehearsing
Our newly formed piano trio, consisting of the renowned pianist İris Şentürker, Borusan Philharmonic solo cellist Çağ Erçağ and myself, has started rehearsing.
We recently visited the legendary violin virtuoso Ms. Ayla Erduran in İstanbul. She blessed our fresh trio with her best energy.
We’re very excited about the upcoming projects - stay tuned.
2023 Masterclasses at the Marmara University
We had a great time in Istanbul teaching young talents at the masterclasses organized by Koosha Music Center and and the Marmara University.
Teachers were cellist Payam Taghadossi from the Basel Symphony Orchestra, guitarist Aljaž Cvirn, pianist Dominic Chamot, and myself on the violin and viola.
Special thanks to Soheil Kooshanpoor, Firouzeh Navai and Ece Karşal, who made this possible.
Recording Session with İris Şentürker in Berlin
With my pianist İris Şentürker, we recorded Necil Kâzım Akses’ “Poém” as part of conductor Howard Griffiths’ Turkish Fives CD project. The recording session took place at the RBB Studio in Berlin and the CD is planned to be released in the next months.
Recording Sessions with Mattia Zappa in Zürich
Together with my cellist colleague Mattia, we have recorded the following program at the Tonhalle Zürich:
Bach Partita No. 2 for keyboard, BWV 826 (arr. for violin and cello by Mattia and myself)
Ravel Sonata for violin and cello
Cem Esen’s “Toccata”, which he dedicated to us
Duo recital with cellist Mattia Zappa at Ceresio Estate in Lugano
On July 1st, as we rounded the corner of summer, we gave a duo recital with my dear cellist Review: Duo Recital with Mattia Zappa (Ceresio Estate 2023), Mattia Zappa from the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich in Lugano, Switzerland, organised by Ceresio Estate 2023.
The audience was quite enthusiastic about our program, which consisted of Bach’s Partita No. 2 in C minor (BWV 826) for keyboard, which Mattia and myself arranged for violin and cello duo. It was quite a challenge, since one is required to have absolute concentration to execute this work.
It was followed by two Capricci by Piatti, where Mattia did an excellent job. Then I played two Capricci by Paganini.
In the second half, we both changed our concert shirts into black to suit Ravel Duo. We had prepared also a short encore, which my Turkish composer & pianist colleague Cem Esen had dedicated to us: “Toccata”.
Stay tuned for our upcoming recordings of this program with Mattia at the Tonhalle in Zürich.
My performance of Brahms Violin Concerto with the State Symphony Orchestra of Istanbul and conductor Alessandro Cedrone
Some impressions from my Brahms Concerto performance from May 12, 2023, accompanied by Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Alessandro Cedrone.
Photos: Yasin Arman
New Paganini 24 Caprices album is out
My first album of complete Paganini 24 Caprices is out on Spotify and YouTube.
Istanbul Int’l Music Festival names new Artistic Advisory Board Members
I am honored to have been named Artistic Advisor to the Istanbul Int’l Music Festival, starting from October 2022.
The board now consists of:
Tamar Brüggemann (founder & co-director at Wonderfeel Festival)
Aydın Dorsay (Artistic Director at Borusan Holding)
Ahmet Erenli (Director at Kocabıyık Foundation)
Dr. Yeşim Gürer Oymak (Deputy Director General at İKSV)
Costa Pilavachi (Co-Curator of Music at the Athens and Epidaurus Festival in Greece)
Alican Süner (violin soloist and 1. violinist with the Tonhalle-Orchestra Zürich)
Knut Weber (Berlin Philharmonic cellist)