Viennese conductor Sascha Goetzel and his Turkish orchestra come from different cultures, but Goetzel has at least one thing in common with his players. He shares a passion with them for making music and enriching cultural life in Istanbul, which is one of the three European Capitals of Culture in 2010.

Goetzel grew up and began his career in Vienna - a city that embodies classical music like few others in Europe. Since January 2009, he has been conductor of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BIPO), which is primarily composed of Turkish musicians who were trained in Turkey.

Celebration of music and culture

While Istanbul hosted a lively series of concerts, performances and fireworks this past weekend to fete its status as a cultural capital, the BIPO also celebrated. On Thursday, the Philharmonic performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to uproarious applause from the audience, and on Friday, the group gave a concert in honor of their first international CD release on January 22.

During Saturday's opening ceremony of Culture City events, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the role Istanbul's cultural institutions, like the BIPO, could play in the government's goal to become a member of the European Union.

"Istanbul is a European city," said Erdogan, "Istanbul has shaped European culture and has been shaped by it. This shows that not only Istanbul, but Turkey is European and should join the European Union."

Erdogan's comments address concerns some EU members have been raising since negotiations on Turkey's bid to become a member state began in 2005. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have resisted the idea of Turkey joining the EU, citing policy and geographic issues.

Turkey's involvement in the European integration process dates back to 1963, when the European Economic Community (EEC) signed the Ankara Association Agreement for the progressive establishment of a customs union.

A bridge between cultures

Within the realm of music, however, Goetzel said that he does not try to influence politics with his work as a conductor - but he does want to remind listeners that, in terms of instrumentation and style, Western music has often borrowed from the East. That's why works by European composers Ottorino Respighi, Paul Hindemith and Florent Schmitt that incorporate elements of Middle Eastern music comprise the Philharmonic's first CD.

"I want to show that this music has been a part of our music for a long time," Goetzel said. "In that sense, it can be a bridge between the two cultures."

The planning committee for Istanbul's year as European Culture Capital also hopes to strengthen artistic links between Istanbul and western European countries through the programs it will sponsor this year.

Noted European visual artists like Remo Salvadori, Antoni Muntadas and Sophie Calle will spend time in Istanbul, working and leading workshops, while young Turkish and other European artists will be given the opportunity to participate in exchange programs between Istanbul and their home cities.

Increasing demand for culture

Cultural life in Istanbul has expanded rapidly in recent years due to increasing levels of income in the city, noted Zeynep Hamedi, chairperson for the Borusan Center for Culture and Arts in Istanbul.

The Center sponsors concerts and exhibitions and offers support for artists in Istanbul in an effort to respond to the rising demand for cultural offerings.

The Borusan Center receives virtually all of its funding from the Borusan Group, a major Turkish company that produces steel and distributes cars and construction equipment. Borusan also owns the Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, which it created in 1993.

Click on the link below to listen to a sample of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra's new CD.

Author: Greg Wiser
Editor: Louisa Schaefer/Rick Fulker (kjb)