ISTANBUL
The fourth edition of the International Clarinet Festival will gather 142 musicians from around the world at 22 events in Istanbul between Sept. 10 and 19.
Turkish clarinet virtuoso Serkan Cagri, who is also the art director of the festival, spoke at a press meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday.
“We are organizing a festival that contains all kind of music types but clarinet has the leading role,” Cagri said. “Perhaps people assume that only clarinet virtuosos and clarinet lovers are here but musicians from different genres of music from all over the world will take part in the festival.”
The renowned clarinetist said that this year’s festival would not be limited to indoor concerts.
“We always say we help the city take a breath,” Cagri said. “For this reason, we spread the festival to streets, squares and metro stations.”
Istanbul’s metro stations, shopping malls as well as iconic ferries will provide ideal scenes for flash concerts during the festival.
In addition, concerts will be held in Taksim, Nisantasi and Ortakoy squares.
Moreover, a music cortege will play on Istanbul’s teeming Istiklal Street in Beyoglu on Sept. 13.
Also, a painting exhibition by Turkish artists will be held at Beyoglu Municipality Art Gallery, beginning Sept. 10.
As part of a “Tributes to masters” section of the festival, legendary Turkish singer Baris Manco will be commemorated with a concert in which Turkish singers, including Yavuz Bingol, Dogukan Manco, Hakan Aysev and Zara, will take the stage.
The U.S.-based band that combines jazz and Romani music, NY Gypsy All-Stars will be performing at Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall on Sept. 18. Indian percussionist Trilok Gurtu will accompany the band.
The Barcelona Gipsy Klezmer Orchestra, which brings together musicians from six countries, will take the stage at the Beyoglu open-air concert hall on Sept. 13.
The Dakota Jim Band, a representative of Klezmer music -- a musical tradition of the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe—will be performing at Ataturk Airport on Sept. 12.
This year’s festival will close with a concert by Greece’s legendary musician George Dalaras and Turkish clarinetist Cagri on Sept. 19.
