Work of the Week - Fazil Say: Istanbul Symphony

On Saturday 13 March 2010, Fazil Say’s Istanbul Symphony will be given its world premiere at the Konzerthaus Dortmund in Germany. Commissioned by the WDR (West German Broadcasting) and the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the performance will form part of the “Ruhr.2010 European Capital of Culture” celebrations. Scored for a large orchestra with additional Turkish traditional instruments, the 45 minute composition will be performed by the West German Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Howard Griffiths.

Fazil Say completed the work in 2009 and the premiere will conclude the composer-pianist’s residency as artist in focus at the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Constructed in seven movements reflecting the seven-hilled city, each section gives a different view point of the city with the complete work presenting a symphonic portrait of Istanbul. Say’s first symphony also bridges the two current European Capitals of Culture, Istanbul and the Ruhr District in Germany.

Further performances are planned in autumn 2010, when the “Zeitinsel” concert series of the Konzerthaus Dortmund will take place in Istanbul.

• Fazil Say - Profile
  
• Konzerthaus Dortmund
  
• www.ruhr2010.de
  
• www.istanbul2010.org