Celebrate classical music in Türkiye’s Bodrum with Gumusluk Music Festival

The 21st Gumusluk Music Festival in Bodrum began with an enchanting concert by Hungarian violinist Kristof Barati and Turkish pianist Tuna Bilgin.

The festival, sponsored by Bosfor Tourism and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, holds the prestigious EFFE2025 award, recognizing it as one of Europe’s most distinguished festivals.

The festival’s opening concert took place at the historic 25-century-old Antik Tas Ocagi, an ancient stone quarry. Pianist Eren Levendlou is the festival’s artistic director, while pianist Gulsin Onay is the artistic advisor.

The concert featured sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, and Franck, attracting notable figures from Bodrum and many classical music enthusiasts.

International artists, performances in Bodrum

After the opening, Portuguese pianists Antonio Silva and Tiago Nunes performed at the Zefirya Culture and Arts Center in Bitez.

Their four-hand piano project, “H4NDS DUO,” developed during the 2019 pandemic, received a standing ovation. The festival will continue until Sept. 9, featuring various concerts and workshops by artists from across the globe.

The Gumusluk Festival Academy’s (GFA) masterclasses provide a platform for young musicians. This year, nine violin students aged 12 to 21 participated in a masterclass led by Kristof Barati and Erkin Onay.

After a week of intensive training, they performed a diverse repertoire at Toprak Ev on Gumusluk Beach. “These young talents have shown remarkable progress,” said Onay.

Upcoming performances, workshops in Bodrum

French pianist Caroline Sageman will make her debut in Türkiye at the festival. She will perform a concert dedicated to the works of Polish composer Frederic Chopin on July 22 and teach piano masterclasses from July 21 to 30.

Other notable performances include American pianist Michael Okser Bulychev, British violinist Miriam Davis, and Turkish pianist Gülsin Onay on July 25, and cellist Poyraz Baltacigil with pianist Cem Esen on July 28.

The festival’s “Suda” concerts at Gumusluk Festival Center offer a variety of musical genres, attracting a younger audience.

The lineup includes the Mats Eilertsen Trio from Norway, Turkish acts Cagil Kaya Sextet, and Bosnian/Spanish musician Miron Rafajlovic. These concerts take place under the stars, providing a unique experience for attendees.

Complete concert calendar for those visiting Bodrum

• July 22: Caroline Sageman (France), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• July 25: Michael Okser Bulychev (USA), Piano & Miriam Davis (UK), Violin & Gülsin Onay (Türkiye), Piano at Zefirya Kultur Merkezi Aktur, Bitez, 9:00 p.m.
• July 28: Poyraz Baltacigil (Türkiye), Cello & Cem Esen (Türkiye), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• July 30: GFA Piano Masterclass Student Concert at Toprak Ev, Gumusluk Festival Center, 8:30 p.m.
• July 31: Pavel Gomziakov (Russia), Cello & Adriano Jordao (Portugal), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• August 5: Olivier Moulin (France), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• August 7: Ilya Itin (Russia), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• August 10: Lorenzo Di Bella (Italy), Piano at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• August 13: GFA Piano Masterclass Student Concert at Toprak Ev, Gumusluk Festival Center, 8:30 p.m.
• August 14: Mats Eilertsen Trio (Norway) at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• August 15: Ilyun Burkev (Türkiye), Piano & Elvin Hoxha (Türkiye), Violin at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.
• August 18: Cagil Kaya Sextet (Türkiye) at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• August 25: Miron Rafajlovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina/Spain) at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• August 29: Tineke Postma Aria Group (Netherlands) at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• August 31: Tineke Postma (Netherlands), Saxophone & Cenk Erdogan (Türkiye), Guitar at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• September 7: Stefano Battaglia (Italy), Piano & Tamer Temel (Türkiye), Saxophone at Gumusluk Festival Center, SUDA, 8:30 p.m.
• September 9: Gülsin Onay (Türkiye), Piano & Erkin Onay (Türkiye), Violin at Antik Tas Ocagi, TASTA, 9:00 p.m.

For more information on the festival schedule and ticketing, visit the official website.