Contact info
Address
IKSV Nejat Eczacibasi Binasi Sadi Konuralp Cad. No.5
Sishane Beyoglu
34433 Istanbul
Turkey
http://muzik.iksv.org/en
Info
Tel: +90 212 334 07 33
Fax: +90 212 334 07 05
music.fest@iksv.org
http://www.iksv.org/muzik/english/
IKSV Nejat Eczacibasi Binasi Sadi Konuralp Cad. No.5
Sishane / Beyoglu 34433 Istanbul – Turkey
Administration
Tel: +90 212 334 07 33
Fax: +90 212 334 07 05
music.fest@iksv.org
http://www.iksv.org/muzik
IKSV Nejat Eczacibasi Binasi Sadi Konuralp Cad. No.5
Sishane / Beyoglu 34433 Istanbul – Turkey
Tickets
Tel: +902123340798
Fax: +902123340705
pazarlama@iksv.org
Press
Tel: +90 212 334 0710
medya@iksv.org
IKSV Nejat Eczacibasi Binasi Sadi Konuralp Cad. No.5
Sishane / Beyoglu 34433 Istanbul – Turkey
Istanbul Music Festival
One of the highlights of Istanbul's cultural life, the International Istanbul Music Festival presents the finest examples of artistic creativity in the fields of music (orchestral concerts, chamber music, recitals and traditional music) classical ballet, contemporary dance and opera.
This festival has been an EFA member since 1977.
Festival Programme
Each EFA member manages its own Calendar. In case there is no programme availabable for this year, please visit the festival's own website.
History
The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts was founded in 1973 under the leadership of Dr. Nejat F. Eczacibasi, who had conceived the idea of a festival of the arts, similar to those held annually at certain times of the year in a number of European cities, to be held in Istanbul. Thus, the 1st Istanbul Festival was held from 15 June to 15 July 1973, on the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.
From its first inception the Istanbul Festival has aimed at including in its programmes the finest examples of artistic creativity in all disciplines of art from both Turkey and abroad, as well as seminars, conferences and lectures. The Istanbul Festival was accredited as a member of European Festivals Association..
Within the context of the 7th Centennial celebration of the Founding of the Ottoman Empire, Vivaldi’s Bajazed opera was selected for an exclusive performance. World famous violinist, director and musicologist Fabio Biondi brought this lengthy opera to a powerful two and a half hour performance. Attracting a great deal of attention, this world premiere version of Bajazed was staged at the Hagia Eireni Museum for the 27th International Music Festival.
From 1984 onwards film screenings included in the International Istanbul Festival programmes began to be organised as a separate activity in April as the International Istanbul Film Festival, and in 1985 one national and one international Golden Tulip competitive sections were included in its programme. In 1989, it was officially recognised by FIAPF (Fédération Internationale Associations des Producteurs de Films) as a "Competitive, Specialised Festival".
The theatrical contribution, which had originally formed one branch of the International Istanbul Festival, was re-organised in 1989 as a third regular activity of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts. The International Istanbul Theatre Festival is held in May, with a programme comprising the finest examples of the works of both foreign and Turkish theatre companies.
In 1987 the various national and international exhibitions devoted to the latest trends in contemporary art were discontinued and the 1st Istanbul Biennial was held. The concept of the 2nd International Istanbul Biennial in 1989, coordinated by Beral Madra was "Contemporary Art in Traditional Spaces". The theme of the 3rd International Istanbul Biennial in 1992 was "Production of Cultural Difference" under the direction of Vasif Kortun. The theme of the 4th International Istanbul Biennial curated by Réne Block was ORIENT/ATION and about 123 artists form 51 countries exhibited their works. The 1997 Biennial’s curator, Rosa Martinez chose the theme as "On Life, Beauty, Translation & Other Difficulties". The theme of 6th International Istanbul Biennial was "The Passion and the Wave" and 56 artists from 32 countries exhibited their works at the 1999 Biennial curated by Paolo Colombo.
Beginning from 1986, a special section was dedicated to jazz within the International Istanbul Festival. From 1994 onwards the event began to be organised as a separate activity. Since then the International Istanbul Jazz Festival hosted many masters of jazz, from Keith Jarret to Jan Garbarek; from Manhattan Transfer to Wynton Marsallis, from Dizzy Gillespie to Modern Jazz Quartet.
With the announcement of a separate Jazz Festival, the name of the International Istanbul Festival was changed to International Istanbul Music Festival which carries on its activities as a specialised summer festival of classical music, ballet, opera and traditional music.
The Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts which celebrated 25th year of its establishment in 1997, organises the International Istanbul Film Festival in April, the International Istanbul Theatre Festival in May, the International Istanbul Music Festival in June-July, the International Istanbul Jazz Festival in July and the International Istanbul Biennial in the autumn every two years.
