One of Ankara’s longest-running cultural and artistic events, the International Ankara Music Festival, welcomed art lovers for the 39th time. The 39th International Ankara Music Festival began with a concert by the Ankara Festival Orchestra, conducted by Orhun Orhonand featuring world-renowned cellist Benedict Kloeckner as the soloist, at the CSO ADA Ankara Main Hall.
Among the audience were the 10th President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Özden Toker, the daughter of İsmet İnönü and President of the İnönü Foundation, orchestra conductors Gürer Aykal and Rengim Gökmen, as well as some foreign ambassadors and diplomats. The concert attracted great interest from art lovers and received enthusiastic applause.
YOUNG ARTISTS AND CELEBRITIES MEET AT THE FESTIVAL
Before the concert, Ali Başman, President of the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation, shared that the festival takes place every year on April 4th in memory of Cenap And, one of the foundation’s founders. He explained that the festival traditionally opens with a symphonic concert. “This year, we focused on showcasing the artistic capacity of our city, with young artists and ensembles collaborating with international celebrities at the events,” he said.
WORLD PREMIERE
Pınar Alpay Yüksel, Secretary General of the Foundation and Festival Coordinator, emphasized that the International Ankara Music Festival is more than just a cultural event; it has become a unifying force for Ankara, bringing people together from various sectors and socio-economic backgrounds. She also highlighted that the festival would feature world premieres, a tradition spanning its 39-year history. “We will witness the first notes of compositions on paper together. This is an exciting opportunity for composers,” she said.
DECLINING SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT
Yüksel pointed out that the festival brings Ankara’s cultural wealth to Europe, significantly contributing to the city’s promotion by being featured in the European Festivals Association catalogs and websites. She also talked about the challenges the festival is facing, such as not having a permanent concert hall. “We built the Şura Hall through campaigns, but organizing such events requires substantial financial resources. Sponsorship support is declining, so we expect companies in Ankara to support our festival once again,” she stated.
This year, the festival features 13 events. A wide range of performances, from classical to contemporary music and from flamenco to jazz, will take place. The festival will end with a concert by the Russian State Academic Symphony Orchestra on April 30th.
