Turkish pianist is centre stage in new Concertgebouw season
OrchestrasPress release:
The Concertgebouw is pleased to announces its 2023-2024 in-house programming. Spotlighted are Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say and the string orchestra Amsterdam Sinfonietta. And as always, we welcome back top international orchestras such as the Filarmonica della Scala with Riccardo Chailly and the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra with Andris Nelsons. Dutch violinist Janine Jansen will present her own Bach Festival. And this year’s Great Pianists series will shine its light on Beethoven.
Fazıl Say: ‘I try to build a bridge between the West and Turkish culture’
Ankara-born pianist and composer Fazıl Say navigates between the Turkish world and the West: ‘I try to build a bridge between different cultures; that’s the sound I’m going for in Amsterdam. There are many Turkish elements in my music: the way I use rhythm and melody, the inspiration I take from people and cities.’ Turkish singer Serenad Bağcan, cellist Jamal Aliyev and the Goldmund Quartet are mong the talented performers Fazıl Say has enlisted for his series. The Dutch pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen will play a piano concerto specially composed for the brothers by him. The spotlight series curated by Fazıl Say’s consists of seven concerts.
Great pianist. Bravo!
Say’s performance of D960 in Hohenems last autumn was unlike any other I have heard in 50 years of concert going, and moved me more than all those others. It felt as if Schubert himself was playing it to friends he knew he could trust. I hope we’ll hear him in UK again soon.
He is actually in London today and tomorrow at the Barbican!
Nice to see that Mr Say is no longer in jail in Turkey after criticizing their president.
I heard the Jussens in Say’s concerto last summer at Tanglewood. To the ears of this listener, the music was full of surprises and effects, as well as lyrical moments, weaving a rich and colorful tapestry of sound, whilst the two brothers were given ample opportunity to display their virtuosity. Raputurous ovations for these two pianists, who, to their credit, were able to electrify the Boston Symphony and even its Music Director Andris Nelsons to such an extent that everyone onstage was more than fully awake and on fire. Ideal concerto for a summer Sunday afternoon.