SENIORS IN EUROPE AND YOUTH IN TURKEY SHOW INTEREST
Cem-i Can Deliorman, the Music Director and Conductor of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO), noted that the average age of classical music listeners in Europe has been rising, while in Turkey, university students show significant interest in classical music concerts. He mentioned that CSO has a loyal audience, and with concerts of various genres in the repertoire, they have also attracted the attention of a younger and new audience. The conductor shared that in the 2025-2026 artistic season, CSO will celebrate its 200th anniversary, and emphasized, “CSO holds a very significant history, touching upon key turning points, changes, and revolutions in our cultural and artistic life.”
Deliorman stated that the CSO is not just an orchestra that performs music on stage, but also a pioneer in the beginning of polyphonic music education in our country. He shared that the historical orchestra will celebrate its 200th anniversary next year. The conductor highlighted that the number of 200-year-old orchestras worldwide is very few, saying, “For an art institution to reach the age of 200 means that the spirituality, social life, and future of the country are very strong. Few countries have a symphony orchestra that is 200 years old. There are none in the Americas, and in Europe, we can count only 4 or 5 orchestras with such a history.”
A STRONG TRADITION OF COMPOSING
Highlighting Turkey’s strong tradition of composing, Deliorman said, “We have very significant composers who come from a long-standing tradition. This region and its culture nourish these composers. No matter what, we embrace this land, its good and bad, its joy and sorrow, and continue to inspire our composers. Thus, we have a strong composing tradition.”
Stating that CSO’s 200th anniversary serves as a great source of motivation, he revealed that during the 2025-2026 season, they would showcase works by Turkish composers, premiere new compositions, and host globally renowned classical musicians.
GREAT INTEREST FROM UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
Deliorman noted that CSO has a dedicated and loyal audience but is also willing to reach the younger generation by enriching its repertoire. He explained:
“There is undoubtedly an aging audience issue in Europe. Young people there no longer follow classical music concerts, and there are many reasons for this. However, this is not the case in Turkey. We see great interest from university students. For them, coming to a concert hall, watching a performance, and learning about these works is an intriguing experience.”
A DIVERSE MUSICAL MENU
“You cannot always play deeply complex pieces that require knowing the historical background. Of course, these pieces are among our most important repertoire, and we frequently perform them. However, some works can be difficult for audiences to listen to. That’s why we also offer a variety of colorful concerts. For instance, we hold film music concerts in this hall and create engaging content for festivals. It’s like a menu—there are fantastic options to be mixed and matched.
We ensure that our program remains intriguing while continuing to attract our core audience and bring in new listeners. We also open our concerts to schools in various districts of Ankara. We bring children to our concert hall, explain the works to them, and let them watch our rehearsals. This way, they understand how an orchestra rehearses and learn about the music. They will eventually become the audience filling these seats.”
WHAT TO WEAR?
Deliorman shared that one of the most frequently asked questions is, “What should we wear?” He responded:
“There’s no need to be intimidated by a classical music concert. Yes, dressing elegantly and appropriately for a concert is a tradition, but this is already a part of our culture. We are not doing something distant from people; but something very familiar. We aim to touch people’s lives—we are not creating music for commercial purposes but for human connection. There are no barriers between us.”
MISPLACED APPLAUSE BETWEEN MOVEMENTS
The conductor advised first-time concertgoers and new listeners to read about the composer and the background of a piece before attending, as this would enhance their enjoyment of the performance. He also addressed the issue of misplaced applause between movements:
“Applause is, of course, important to us. However, there are sacred moments of silence within a piece. Our music is not just about strong sounds, it is the moments of silence in between that make those sounds more beautiful. These silent pauses allow the depth and meaning of a note to fully resonate within the human spirit. Therefore, applause should be managed in a way that does not disrupt these moments of silence.
The concert programs indicate the structure of each piece, allowing the audience to follow and see when it is appropriate to applaud.”
