ANKARA 

Türkiye's Baskent Culture Road Festival hosted Bosnian-Herzegovinian singer Dino Merlin in the capital Ankara on Thursday

The 59-year-old performing artist gave an exclusive concert for Turkish and Balkan fans at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Concert Hall.

Born on Sept. 12, 1962 in Sarajevo, Merlin is the most renowned singer and songwriter from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the most popular music star in the Balkans.

He has released 11 studio albums, including five with his former band Merlin, and six solo albums as well as several greatest hits collections and live concert recordings.

His 11th studio album, Hotel Nacional, was released in June 2014 and was featured in the top 10 on Billboard's Top World Albums chart.

He competed as a performer in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, in 1999 and 2011, and three times as a composer for other artists.

Aiming to introduce Ankara's cultural, architectural and historical heritage to the international area, the Capital Culture Road Festival will host 560 events attended by 5,971 artists, 179 academics and historians.

In addition to Merlin, Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Concha Buika, Salif Keita, one of Mali's most beloved singer-songwriters, and Austrian soprano Anna Prohaska will take the stage in Ankara as part of the festival until June 12.

The Turkish State Polyphonic Choir is also set to play the works of Johannes Brahms, Edvard Grieg, Samuel Barber and Peteris Vasks at the CSO ADA Ankara concert complex.