Horizon series to showcase music by women composers from Istanbul
The Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra’s Horizon series is set to continue at the end of October. An intimate chamber concert in the Paavo Hall of the Musiikkitalo concert hall will showcase the music of women composers who worked in Istanbul from the 17th century. Musicians from the HPO will play alongside Gülistan Ensemble, a Turkish vocal and instrumental ensemble specialising in the music of women composers from the Ottoman era.
Turkish classical music is said to be rooted in the cultural heritage of the Ottoman Empire. Many works and composers have been forgotten over the centuries, and women composers have also remained unknown. It was not until the end of the 18th century, after the development of written notation systems, that the compositions of the Ottoman era could be passed on to future generations in any other way than just by memory. At the same time, works were transcribed to western notation. The Gülistan Ensemble and its members, led by ney flute player Kudsi Erguner, have done pioneering work in making the production of women composers of the era known and recognised.
After the concert, there will be an opportunity to talk with the performers. The discussion will be led by postdoctoral researcher Nuppu Koivisto-Kaasik from the Research Institute of the University of the Arts Helsinki.
The Horizon concert series is a collaboration between the orchestra and MiklagardArts, and the programme of the series is curated by Ceyda Berk-Söderblom. The three-part concert series started on Helsinki Day last June, and the last concert of the series will be heard at Musiikkitalo on 8 June 2024.
Horizon concert series: Gülistan Ensemble
Musiikkitalo, Paavo Hall
Sat 28.10.2023 at 18:00
Gülistan Ensemble
Gül Yazıcı, vocals
Neva Özgen, kemençe, Turkish stringed lute
Safinaz Rizeli, kanun, Turkish zither
Kudsi Erguner, ney, Turkish flute
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Liam Mansfield, violin
Mariette Reefman, viola
Beata Antikainen, cello
Tuomo Matero, double bass
Anni Kuusimäki, harp
Further information about the concert:
https://helsinginkaupunginorkesteri.fi/en/concerts/horizon-gulistan-ensemble
Tickets 20 / 15 / 7 € from Ticketmaster www.ticketmaster.fi/hko and the ticket sales desk at Musiikkitalo.