39th International Ankara Music Festival kicks off
Presidential Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall (CSO Ada) in Ankara, Türkiye, accessed on April 5, 2025. (Photo courtesy of CSO Ada)
The 39th International Ankara Music Festival, organized by the Sevda-Cenap And Music Foundation, opened with a performance by cellist Benedict Kloeckner.
In his speech before the concert at the CSO Ada Ankara Ziraat Bankasi Main Hall, Ali Basman, President of the Sevda-Cenap Music Foundation, shared that the festival is held annually on April 4th in memory of Cenap And, one of the foundation’s founders, and traditionally kicks off with a symphonic concert.
Basman expressed his happiness to be celebrating the 39th edition of the festival, saying, “This year, we focused on reflecting the artistic potential of our city, ensuring that both young artists and international stars are part of our events.”
Pinar Alpay Yuksel, Secretary-General of the foundation, also spoke about the festival’s lineup, noting that many artists would be performing during the event. She stated, “We have been organizing this festival for years under the motto ‘Ankara’s spring is more beautiful with music,’ and our aim is to bring all the beauty of art to Türkiye and the world.”
Works by Austrian and Russian composers presented
The festival’s opening concert featured cellist Benedict Kloeckner, with the Ankara Festival Orchestra conducted by Orhun Orhon. The first half of the concert included the performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, a famous Russian composition. In the second half, the orchestra performed Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 101, a renowned piece by the Austrian composer.
The concert, which drew a great deal of enthusiasm from the audience, was met with a standing ovation and continued applause for several minutes.
Among the attendees were notable figures such as Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the 10th President of Türkiye; Ozden Toker, daughter of the 2nd President Ismet Inonu and President of the Inonu Foundation; Gulsun Bilgehan, Vice-President of the Inonu Foundation; renowned conductors Gurer Aykal and Rengim Gokmen; and many art lovers.
The festival will continue tomorrow with a concert by Ensemble Orochi at the CSO Historical Hall.
