Weekly Cultural Agenda of Turkey

Electro Deluxe, a French band inspired from Motown legend Funk Brothers, and signing in a large spectrum between funk, jazz, hip-hop and new jazz. The group will stage in Armada Shopping Mall on November 16, 2013.

Known as one of the most important musicians of the century, Andre Rieu will be in Istanbul on November 29, 2013 for a big concert at Sinan Erdem Dome, similar to his recent concerts that 50-60 thousands of people attended. André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist, conductor, and composer best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. The Johann Strauss Orchestra was founded in 1987. Following six months of rehearsals, they gave their first concert on January 1, 1988. The orchestra began with only twelve members, but now there are 50, sometimes even 60 on very large stages.

 Turkey's Blues Festival will run from November 1 to November 26. Internationaly renowned blues artists will play in 17 cities across Turkey, from Istanbul to Denizli to Diyarbakir to Canakkale. Guitarist and songwriter Joe Louis Walker, singer and songwriter Kathrine Davis and the Blues-veteran Jimmy Burns are some of the musicians to appear on stages during the festival.

 

- Exhibition

Photographs taken by Nicholas V Artamonoff entitled; “Artamonoff: Picturing Byzantine Istanbul, 1930-1947” are exhibited at Koc University Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations, in Istanbul's Taksim district. The exhibition curated by Gunder Varinlioglu reflects the daily life of Istanbul between 1922-1947 during the time the photohrapher lived in Istanbul. The photograph exhibition started on July 24 and continues until Sunday.

 The works of renowned photographer Chema Madoz will be on display in an exhibition organized in coordination with the Spanish Embassy in Ankara and the Cervantes Institute. Everyday objects and scenery are taken to surreal levels through the photographer’s unique techniques and aesthetic. The exhibition can be seen till Saturday in Tesvikiye, Istanbul.

Dreams, Realities, Images: The Image of the Republic in Modern Turkish Painting: Pera Museum is celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey with a reading of recent Turkish history through examples of modern Turkish painting and images. Curated by Ekrem Isin, this selection covers themes like the National Forces years, rural life, migration, slums and urbanization, the isolated individuals of modern life, and interpretation of the past. The exhibition can be seen till Sunday.

A Marginal Revolution, which is curated by Max Presneill and Gul Cagin, explore the current climate of uncertainty, which seems to be growing hotter and hotter—Distrust in governments all over the world has led to increased partisanship and in some cases, civil unrest and even revolution. Artists propose new ways of considering the political climate in terms of civil liberties and rights, opposition to authority, concerns over the future, and notions of freedom. The exhibition can be seen till Sunday at Suleyman Seba Ave. No.52 at Akaretler - Istanbul.

Contemporary Istanbul, sponsored by Akbank Private Banking, celebrates its 8th Anniversary at Lutfi Kirdar Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC) and Istanbul Congress Center (ICC)  on November 7-10, 2013. The leading international art fair in Turkey will bring together 110 art galleries from 21  countries with outstanding works by more than 650 international and Turkish artists. Half of the works to be exhibited are from the Balkans, North Africa and East Mediterranean and the rest is from Europe and America.

10 artists under the age of 40 Exhibition, which is a group exhibition, will feature the participation of 10 artists from different continents, jobs; painting to video, sculpture, photography and mixed media in a wide range of placement is spreading. Diana Al Hadid, Volkan Aslan, Natalie Frank, Gozde Ilkin, JR, Idris Khan, Takuro Kuwata, Angel Otero, Robin Rhode, Mehmet Ali Uysal. Attractions First, Natalie Frank and where Aslan group exhibition curated by Isabella Icoz take place. The exhibition can be seen till Thursday, at Istanbul'74, Kemankes Ave., Galata Sarap Iskelesi Street, Suha Fazli Han No.8/3.

An installation entitled 'pictures in a stairwell', celebrating Bogazici University hundred and fifty year history is exhibited at the University in the Bebek district of Istanbul. It runs till the end of the year. International British artist, Anish Kapoor's first major exhibition in Turkey is being held at Sabanci University Sakip Sabanci Museum, in Emirgan district in Istanbul from September 10, 2013 to January 5, 2014.

 

- Book

32nd Istanbul International Book Fair: 

Organized by TUYAP Fairs in partnership with the Publishers Association of Turkey, the 32nd International Istanbul Book Fair will be held between November 2 and 10, 2013 at the TUYAP Fair and Convention Center, Buyukcekmece.  The fair will greet its visitors with 690 publishers and non-governmental organizations, 300 events and hundreds of autograph sessions.

The Book Fairs Advisory Board named historian and academic Taner Timur as the Writer of Honor of the 32nd International Istanbul Book Fair, and chose the fair’s theme as “History: The Future in the Past.”  A number of panel discussions and other events will be held with Taner Timur throughout the fair, and TUYAP will prepare a book and an exhibition on the life and selected works of Taner Timur.

The international section in Hall 12 will host 200 publishers, copyright agencies and publishers associations from 40 countries between November 2 and 5, 2013.

 

- Exhibitions at the Fair

The Book Fair will host a number of important exhibitions this year.  The “Sifting through the Past: History is an Appraisal of Value” exhibition focuses on Buyuk Dogu, the longest-running periodical in the history of the Republic of Turkey, displaying a number of magazine covers and inner features that make determinations and appraisals about the far and near history. 

In commemoration of the 90th year of the Turkish-Greek population exchange, the Foundation for Exchange Families prepared an exhibition titled “The Shores of Longing: Stories of Population Exchange Families” at the 32nd International Istanbul Book Fair.  The exhibition consists of family photographs and summaries of the stories of 70 people sent to Greece from Turkey or vice versa.

TUYAP and Boyut Publishing will organize an exhibition titled “500 Years of Piri Reis” to honor the 500th year of the Piri Reis World Map, dated 1513, and hailed by UNESCO as an artifact to remember and celebrate.

The “19th Century Istanbul from the Lens of James Robertson” exhibition is the portrayal of the city of Istanbul, which was the second home of photographer James Robertson, with its unique beauties and countless intrigues.  The exhibition is organized by TUYAP in association with curator Fahri Aral and designer Sadik Karamustafa.

The “Istanbul: From Occupation to Liberation” exhibition prepared by history researcher Atilla Oral consists of photographs and documents kept by the British and French occupation forces.

Change in Visiting Hours:

The 32nd International Istanbul Book Fair will be open between 10 am and 7 pm during the week and between 10 am and 8 pm on the weekend.  The Fair will close at 7 pm on Sunday, November 10, 2013.

The 32nd International Istanbul Book Fair will be held concurrently with the 22nd Istanbul Art Fair-ARTIST 2013.

 

- Books

Birdsong and Flame: a book of poetry about Istanbul and Turkey.  This has been written by James Andrew who has taught at Darussafaka Lisesi and Uskudar American Academy in Istanbul. It deals with a period of about four years when he was living and working in Istanbul.  The poems he wrote at that time have been grouped loosely into a sort of diary in poetry.  The themes are the city of Istanbul and his reaction to it; teaching in Istanbul; visits to Antalya, Cappadocia, and Ephesus; the last big earthquake in Istanbul; partings and meetings; various cats he has known in Turkey; and his reactions on his return to his home in Scotland: Balnakeil in the far north west of the country. Various bookshops in Istanbul have information on how to acquire the book if you wish to order it from them:  Robinson Crusoe, Homer Kitabevi, and Pandora’s Box on the Istiklal Caddesi in Taksim;  the Greenhouse Cafe in Kadikoy; Remzi Kitabevi in Akmerkez.   

Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey, a nonfiction anthology edited by Anastasia M. Ashman and Jennifer Eaton Gokmen, was  #1 bestselling English language book at Remzi Kitap after its debut and remained on the bestseller list for 22 consecutive months. It also hit bestseller lists for its category on a number of different bookstores in UK and US. The English version of Expat Harem, published by Seal Press, is available online. This anthology shares true stories of life in Turkey by expats from many different nationalities in many different life circumstances.

“Osman's Dream. The Story of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1923” is the latest book of Caroline Finkel. It is a narrative history of the Ottoman Empire from its earliest beginnings to its final destruction on the battlefields of the First World War. “Osman's Dream” is aimed at the general reader, and is now available from reputable bookstores in Turkey. 

Hughette Eyuboglu who is among the first foreign brides in Turkey, published her memories in Turkish last year and attracted attention. The English and French versions of the said book “Living Under the Shadow of Two Cultures” and “Du Clocher au Minaret” respectively are at the bookstores as of June.

 

- Theatre/Show

"Ask Hastasi (Lovesick), is a theatre play written and directed by Kenan Isik, and shown by State Theatres in Ankara. The play discusses an actor and the suicide of his actress girlfriend by asking "Where is the place of heart?". The play can be watched till November 12.

"Son Tango (Last Tango) is a theatre play written by Ozcan Ozer and directed by Murat Sari, and shown by State Theatres in Istanbul. "Maria, fakir ama idealist Pedro’yu sevmektedir. (Maria loves Pedro, a poor but idealist guy)." She finds response to her love but she makes a tragic mistake, which is intrinsic to love, and gets married to Jose to teach a painful lesson to Pedro.

"Taniyor Olabilecegin Kisiler (The People You May Know)", which can be given as the example of cafe theatre, will be at Old City Comedy Club in Istanbul on November 4, and November 25. 

Worldwide famous comedian and actor Russell Brand will be at TIM Show Center in Istanbul on November 23, 2013 as part of his “Messiah Complex World Tour 2013”.

After the success of last year's inaugural professional golf tournament, 2013 will see another world class event being held in Antalya. The Turkish Airlines Open will take place 7-10 November at the Montgomerie Maxx Royal Golf Club in Belek.

"The Dark World": Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard can not withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all. Director: Alan Taylor Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman. 

 

- Opera/Ballet (State Opera and Ballet)

- Ankara

Harem (by M. Bahar Cimenciler) :  A young man called Kemal brings a message to Sultana and sees a very beautiful girl called Cesmidil in Hareem. This turns into love in time and Cesmidil decides to escape from the palace to be with Kemal. "Harem" is a ballet show that will be exhibited on November 4, 2013.

Anatolia With Sounds (Sadi Erdogan): Project called 'Anatolia with Sounds' that have been prepared to present Turkish history, culture and art in domestic and abroad activities of General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, aims to show Turkey's modern face in the international arena by immingling the theme of Anatolia in the geography in which Turkey is located with polyphonic music and dance. The show can be seen on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.

Rigoletto (by Guiseppe Verdi): Opera is composed of three acts, for two and half an hour. The opera can be seen every week until December 16, 2013.

Zorba (by Mikis Theodorakis): An American called John comes to a small Greek village and falls in love with the widow Marina as he takes a fancy to the traditions that he wants to a part of. Villagers argue against Marina falling in love with a stranger by ignoring the love of the young handsome man from the village. The only friend of John is Zorba who has no relatives, but he is a powerful and free man. John and Marina can live their love thanks to Zorba. However, the villagers try to protect their unity and traditions. Zorba can be seen on November 7, 2013.

- Istanbul

The Sufferings of Young Werther (by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe): Ballet, adapted from prominent German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's novel, composed of two acts for one hour and fourty-five minutes. The ballet can be seen on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at Kadikoy Sureyya Opera in Istanbul.

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