Turkish pianist is centre stage in new Concertgebouw season

Press 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.