News

International Izmir Festival celebrates 25th anniversary

6 June 2011

The International İzmir Festival organized by the İzmir Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSEV) uninterruptedly since 1987 is 25 years old. The International İzmir Festival, which is a respected member of the European Festivals Association, takes place June 20 – July 21, 2011. The 25th International İzmir Festival takes place with the support of the Board of Introduction Fund of the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, İzmir Development Agency, and İzmir Special Provincial Administration, main sponsorship of Eczacıbaşı Holding, program sponsorship of the Derivatives Exchange, ARKAS and Yaşar Holding, the collaborations of Goethe Institut Izmir, the Consulate General of Greece in İzmir, the Italian Consulate in Izmir, the Consulate General of Poland in İstanbul and İzmir French Cultural Center. İKSEV, which has brought the most important artists and groups to Izmir within the past 24 years and enabled them to give concerts in the major historical sites of the city as Ephesus Antique Theater, Celsus Library, Ephesus Odeon, Bergama Asklepion, Metropolis, Çeşme Fortress, Seferihisar Inner Castle, Agora, Kadifekale and Smyrna ruins in Bayraklı, will use the Ayavukla Church restored by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Bornova Amphitheatre and Çeşme Caravanserai this year as Festival venues for the first time. Acknowledged as one of England’s pioneer orchestras, Philharmonia will make the opening of the Festival under conduct of Esa-Pekka Salonen , its Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, famous Finnish composer and conductor selected as ‘’The Artist of the Year’’ in 2010 by International Classical Music Awards (ICMA ) 2010 on June 20, 2011 in Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center. İKSEV will host the GrauSchumacher Duo who are the world’s best piano duos ever in the 25th Festival in Celsus Library on June 22, 2011 Wednesday with the collaboration of Goethe Institut İzmir. Andreas Grau and Götz Schumacher who have established themselves as one of the ‘’bests ‘’ on classical music stage with their extraordinary recordings will play on the 200th anniversary of Franz Liszt’s birth in İzmir Festival with a special repertoire. The ensemble ‘’I Musici’’ who has won all the prominent prizes of the world of classical music like Grand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros, Grand Prix International du Disque, the Edison Award, whose recordings have become the reference of classical music listeners is here in the 25th year of İzmir Festival with the contributions of Turkish Derivatives Exchange. This unique ensemble will meet with İzmirians once again with a special invitation in Celsus Library on June 24, 2011 Friday. The Wilanow String Quartet which is one of the most important chamber music ensembles of Poland with their rich repertoire and recordings exceeding thirty will meet with the Festival audience on June 27, 2011 Monday in Çeşme Fortress. Flutist Elżbieta Gajewska who is one of the important names of Poland will join the Quartet who participates in the Festival with the collaboration of the Consulate General of Poland in İstanbul and contributions of ARKAS in their İzmir concert. The traditional Turkish-Greek Art Rendezvous of the International İzmir Festival will be realized in Ephesus Odeon this year. Anagnosis Company that has reached a rightful fame in staging the antique plays which are considered as the national treasure of Greece, the favorite invitee of theater festivals will stage ‘’The Trackers’’ , the less known satyr play of Sophocles on June 30, 2011. The 25th International İzmir Festival is hosting the giant production of the General Directorate of State Opera and Ballet, ‘’ Swan Lake’’ in the new venue of the Festival, Bornova Amphitheatre on July 4, 2011 Monday. And one of the guests of the 25th International İzmir Festival about whom saying many words is not needed is Natalie Cole. One of the best voices of the world’s jazz stages, owner of nine Grammy Awards, whose albums have reached a sales figure over 50 million all over the world, Natalie Cole, will sing on July 12, 2011 Tuesday in Culture Park Open-Air theatre. The 25th International İzmir Festival will end on July 21, 2011 Thursday with an incomparable Gala Night. Çeşme Caravanserai, the new venue of the Festival like Bornova Amphitheater and Ayavukla Church, will host the renowned vocal group of England, I Fagiolini. Tickets of the 25th International İzmir Festival are on sale. It is possible to buy the tickets with prices ranging between 250 to 20 TL. from Biletix counters and from the İKSEV counter at Lozan gate of the Fair. (Source: FOCUS on TRAVEL NEWS)