This Week's Events Awaiting Art Lovers at AKM

Istanbul Atatürk Culture Centre (AKM) will welcome art enthusiasts in the last week of January with numerous events ranging from opera to ballet, theatre to concerts.

THE SPARROW THAT NEVER LOST HOPE
"The Sparrow That Never Lost Hope," written as the third play of the "Philosopher Stories for Children Project," features interactive storytelling for children aged 3-6, telling the adventures of a small sparrow learning to fly.

The Sparrow That Never Lost Hope will be performed on Monday, 27 January at 11:00 and 13:00, Tuesday, 28 January at 11:00 and 13:00, Wednesday, 29 January at 11:00 and 13:00, and Thursday, 30 January at 11:00 and 13:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall Foyer.

AMADEUS
"Amadeus," written by Peter Shaffer and telling the extraordinary story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two unforgettable composers in world music history, will be staged at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall on Tuesday, 28 January. Continuing to meet theatre enthusiasts under the direction of master director Işıl Kasapoğlu, "Amadeus" stars Selçuk Yöntem (Antonio Salieri) and Tansu Biçer (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) in the leading roles.

Amadeus will be performed on 28 January at 20:30 at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

THE DEAF SULTAN
"The Deaf Sultan," staged by the State Folk Dance Ensemble, presents the narratives of good and evil throughout human history, conveying the test faced by lands spanning from the Balkans to Turkish republics through choreography symbolizing the hope flourishing in these lands. The artistic direction is by Yıldız Çankaya.

The Deaf Sultan–State Folk Dance Ensemble will be performed on 28 January at 20:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall.

LA TRAVIATA
Following the success of Alexandre Dumas' 1848 novel The Lady of the Camellias, the story resonated not only in the literary world but also in performing arts such as theatre and ballet, becoming an immortal work that has evolved into a timeless narrative. Giuseppe Verdi's transformation of this unique story into an operatic masterpiece, "La Traviata," remains one of the most performed and admired works in opera history. La Traviata is Verdi's most renowned work from his "Rigoletto - Il Trovatore – La Traviata" trilogy.

La Traviata is not merely a love story but also a mirror held up to society of its time. Beneath the glittering surface of Parisian entertainment, social taboos, the roles prescribed for women, and the liberating force of love are questioned. Violetta, as both a strong and fragile character, stands at the very centre of these conflicts. Her tragedy reflects the irreconcilable tension between individual desires and social norms.

State Opera and Ballet General Director Recep Ayyılmaz's interpretation, drawing from all disciplines of art, presents La Traviata as an invitation for audiences to find themselves not merely in an opera, but within a tableau of life exploring humanity's most fundamental emotions.

La Traviata–Istanbul State Opera and Ballet will be performed on 29 January at 20:00, 30 January at 20:00, and 1 February at 15:00 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

CLASSICAL TURKISH MUSIC SUITE IN THE SUZIDIL MAQAM
Following the performance of the classical suite of "Eyyûbî Mehmed Bey" adorned with beautiful melodies belonging to the "Suzidil" maqam, known as the maqam of nobility and elegance, by the Istanbul State Turkish Music Research and Implementation Ensemble artists, guest artists Osman Nuri Özpekel, Presidential Classical Chorus artists Aziz Şüküü Özoğuz and Caner Can will take listeners on a journey into the enchanting world of instruments.

Classical Turkish Music Suite in the Suzidil Maqam–Istanbul State Turkish Music Research and Implementation Ensemble will be performed on 29 January at 20:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall.

GÜLÜDÜ GÜLÜDÜ SHOW
Exciting young child performers take the stage under the moderation of Ezo Sunal.

Gülüdü Gülüdü Show will be performed on Thursday, 30 January at 17:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall.

THE GARBAGE MONSTER
With the influx of fish in the blue waters of the Bosphorus, Hacivat offers his friend Karagöz to go fishing. Karagöz, whose only concern is doing spring cleaning at home, dismisses Hacivat and begins the cleaning.

The Garbage Monster will be performed on Friday, 31 January at 11:00 and 13:00, and Sunday, 2 February at 11:00 and 13:00 at the AKM Türk Telekom Opera Hall Foyer.

ISTANBUL STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DENIZBANK CONCERTS
The Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra DenizBank Concerts take place on 31 January under the baton of conductor Diego Matheuz, with Peter Steiner on trombone performing as soloist. The programme includes C.M.V. Weber's Freischütz Overture, D. Bourgeois' Trombone Concerto Op. 114, and P.I. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 in B Minor, Op. 74 "Pathetique."

Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra DenizBank Concerts will be held on 31 January at 20:00 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

47 YEARS OF "CLASSICS"
The Presidential Classical Turkish Music Chorus organized this concert at the AKM Opera Hall as a gift to mark 47 years of the ensemble's history. Founded in 1975 and initially performing at Galata Mevlevihane, the chorus began giving concerts at AKM in 1978, three years after its establishment. The chorus prepared this concert as a tribute to this important chapter in its institutional history. The chorus will perform with the repertoire from its first concert at AKM under the direction of Nevzad Atlığ, and soloists Aybige Demir Okan, Aynur Ezgi Yüksel, and Merve Kıvılcımer will also perform works that were sung by soloist Ayla Büyükataman at the 1978 concert. Under conductor Mehmet Güntekin's direction, works by Zeki Mehmed Ağa, Dellalzade, Zekâi Dede, Şakir Ağa, Arif Mehmed Ağa, Dilhayat Kalfa, and Tanburi Ali Efendi will be performed, along with the Karcığar köçekçe ensemble.

47 Years of "Classics" at AKM–Presidential Classical Turkish Music Chorus will be held on 1 February at 20:30 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall.

TÜRK TELEKOM PRIME COFFEE CONCERTS
The Türk Telekom Prime Coffee Concerts bring together art enthusiasts every Saturday in the enchanting atmosphere of Atatürk Culture Centre. These concerts, with their rich musical repertoire and warm atmosphere, add enjoyment to Saturday mornings. Flute artist Bülent Evcil, who says he has "fulfilled his dream" through this organization, meets audiences alongside three world-renowned musicians. Evcil shares the stage with Marc Grauwels, one of Belgium's most important flute players who has greatly influenced his life and the teacher to whom Astor Piazzolla dedicated compositions.

Joining this pair is Irina Stachinskaya, a flute virtuoso trained in Russia and sought after internationally, who will also perform important works from world flute literature. These three impressive flute virtuosos come together with solos, duets, and trio works. The evening's greatest significance lies in Phillip Moll, who will accompany these three flutists. Mr. Moll began his extraordinary career as pianist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra during the legendary conductor Herbert Von Karajan's era, and crowned his career by accompanying the world's most renowned soloists. He is a true legend who has made recordings and performed concerts with the three flute players you will hear at this concert.

Türk Telekom Prime Coffee Concerts–A Morning at the Opera will be held on 1 February at 11:00 at the Türk Telekom Opera Hall Lower Foyer.

KIDCONCERTS
KidConcerts, Turkey's first and only classical music ensemble dedicated to children, meets the young at Atatürk Culture Centre for the first time this season. The classical music concert, featuring the live performance of four musicians, will be interactive with storytelling and ballet performance. The musical journey beginning from America will continue with the masters who witnessed the birth of classical music from Europe. Young art enthusiasts will meet world-renowned composers such as Bizet, Brahms, Strauss, and Joplin, and will have the opportunity to watch a professional ballerina perform on stage.

KidConcerts will be held on Sunday, 2 February at 12:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall.

LEMI ABI AND ZUZI SHOW
Philosopher Lemi's new songs highlight themes such as waste recycling, nature and environment awareness, the future of our Earth within space and planets, and healthy nutrition, enriched with stage performance, while his alien friend Zuzi joins him. Together they design a project from recyclable materials that every child can easily make at home; they have fun and learn with entertaining songs.

Lemi Abi and Zuzi Show will be held on Sunday, 2 February at 15:00 at the AKM Theatre Hall.

WARHOL'S WORLD–THE ICON OF POP ART
Atatürk Culture Centre hosts the "Warhol's World – The Icon of Pop Art" exhibition dedicated to Andy Warhol, one of the most important figures in modern art. Warhol, a pioneer of the Pop Art movement, is known for his works that blur the boundaries between art and life. The exhibition brings together Warhol's renowned works alongside works selected from private collections.

Warhol's World–The Icon of Pop Art will be on display from 4 January to 4 May 2025 at the AKM Music Platform.

PABLO PICASSO–FROM PAINTING TO CERAMICS: A JOURNEY
The "Pablo Picasso: From Painting to Ceramics – A Journey" exhibition at AKM Gallery brings together 170 works by the renowned artist, including original engravings, drawings, posters, lithographs, and photographs. Picasso began his career in Paris and became known at the "Bateau-Lavoir" studio in Montmartre, where he met important art dealers of the time and rapidly rose in the art world. The artist, known for his bohemian lifestyle and passionate relationships, left deep marks of his loves from this period in his works. Picasso's art continuously evolved through different styles and techniques over the years. As one of the pioneers of Cubism, Picasso developed this movement together with Derain and Braque, whom he met in 1907. The works in the exhibition encompass various stages of Picasso's artistic journey and his artistic transformations.

Pablo Picasso: From Painting to Ceramics – A Journey will be on display from 28 September 2024 to 4 May 2025 at AKM Gallery.

FRIDA KAHLO'S DIARIES
The Frida Kahlo's Diaries exhibition, prepared drawing inspiration from the artist's personal diaries, offers a unique experience providing deep insight into Frida Kahlo's life, inner world, and artistic journey. The exhibition allows exploration of Kahlo's thoughts blended with her pain, passion, and life.