Tekfen Philharmonic to Meet Classical Music Lovers

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Tekfen Philharmonic is preparing to meet classical music enthusiasts in Istanbul and Ankara with October concerts. Under the baton of Conductor Aziz Shokhakimov, Tekfen Philharmonic is set to perform on 5 October in Istanbul and 6 October in Ankara, welcoming Roby Lakatos, one of the world's most beloved violinists, and Göksel Baktagir, one of today's leading qanun virtuosos.   One of Turkey's notable private arts institutions, Tekfen Philharmonic continues to meet classical music enthusiasts on the occasion of its 30th anniversary through consecutive concerts in Istanbul and Ankara in October. Under the direction of Permanent Conductor and Artistic Director Aziz Shokhakimov, the orchestra will perform on 5 October at Istanbul's Zorlu PSM, and on 6 October at CSO Ada Ankara within the scope of the Capital Cultural Route Festival. In the fast-paced program accompanying the world-renowned Hungarian violin virtuoso Roby Lakatos and his ensemble, listeners will witness a spontaneous improvisation between Göksel Baktagir on the qanun and the cimbalom, the traditional instrument of Hungary, as the guest artist and long-time collaborator of Tekfen Philharmonic engages in musical interplay.  

One of the world's finest living violinists

Known for his unique artistic personality as a Romani violinist, the devil's violinist, classical virtuoso, jazz improviser, composer and arranger, Roby Lakatos is one of the world's finest living violinists. Roby Lakatos was born in 1965 as the seventh-generation descendant of János Bihari, the "King of Romani Violinists." Bihari was a musician who earned the admiration of Ludwig van Beethoven, introduced Johannes Brahms to melodies that inspired the composer's Hungarian Dances, and was described by Franz Liszt as someone from whose magical violin "harmonious notes flow like honey to our enchanted ears." Lakatos, honoring the legacy he inherited, stands out with his versatile musician identity, performing classical music works, jazz pieces and folk songs of his native Hungary with mastery. Raised immersed in his family's musical tradition, Roby Lakatos began performing as first violinist in a Romani orchestra at just nine years old. After completing his education at Budapest's Béla Bartók Conservatory, Lakatos won first prize in the violin category at a competition he entered at age 19, after which he settled in Belgium. Performing in Brussels at the club now synonymous with his name, Les Ateliers de la Grande Ile, with his violin ensemble, Lakatos' star rose rapidly, and today he performs at major festivals and the most prestigious concert halls around the world. The guest artist of the concert, qanun virtuoso Göksel Baktagir, who began his compositional work during his conservatory years, has approximately 400 works to his name. Many of his compositions have been admitted to the TRT repertoire, and Baktagir is the recipient of numerous awards in his field. His "Sazım" composition, a Zâvil saz semaisi, won an award at a competition organized by TRT in 1990 when he was just 23 years old, while his "East Wind" album was honored by the Turkish Writers Association in 2000. Baktagir, who received the Music Award of the Year from the European Union Foundation in 2004, was honored with the Composer of the Year Award at the 2013 Itrî Music Awards and the Grand Prize for Music from the Office of the President of the Republic of Turkey in 2017.   Tickets for Tekfen Philharmonic's concert on 5 October at Istanbul's Zorlu PSM Turkcell Hall at 20:30 are on sale at passo.com, and tickets for the concert on 6 October at CSO Ada Ankara at 20:00 are available at biletinial.com.