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Choir music in focus: Turkish sounds meet French masters!
Experience a unique concert evening with choral music from France and Turkey on July 12, 2025 in the Bordesholm monastery church, presented by the NDR Vokalensemble under the direction of Peter Dijkstra.
Choir music in focus: Turkish sounds meet French masters!
On October 30, 2025, music lovers and those interested in culture are looking forward to a special event as part of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. On July 12, 2025, the venerable monastery church in Bordesholm will be the venue for an extraordinary concert, thematically centered around the fascinating sounds of France and Turkey. The concert will be conducted by the NDR Vokalensemble, under the experienced direction of Peter Dijkstra.
The program combines choral music from France with Turkish melodies and thus highlights the festival's focus on “Istanbul”. The composers featured this evening include some of the most outstanding musical personalities of the 20th century. Among the works presented are pieces by Camille Saint-Saëns, Claude Debussy and Francis Poulenc, while the Turkish composers Ulvi Cemal Erkin and Ahmed Adnan Saygun will not be missing.
A diverse program
The concert program promises an impressive mix of different styles and cultures. The listeners will hear, among other things, the “Six Chansons” by Paul Hindemith, who became known not only as a composer but also as a pioneer of musical education in Turkey. Hindemith lived in a turbulent time in the 20th century; The influence of his experiences with the restrictive cultural policies of the Third Reich had a lasting impact on his work. In addition, the Turkish composers Erkin and Saygun studied in Paris and may have had contact with greats such as Francis Poulenc, further strengthening the musical bridges between the two cultures.
Let's take a look at the selected works:
| composer | factories |
|---|---|
| Camille Saint Saens | Calm des Nuits, Les flowers et les Arbres |
| Claude Debussy | Three Chansons, Les Angelus |
| Ahmed Adnan Saygun | Ayşem Nerden Geliyon, Altun Yüzük, Asker Oldum Piyade |
| Paul Hindemith | Six Songs |
| Eric Satie / W. Knight | Gymnopédies |
| Francis Poulenc | Clic, clac, dansez sabots, La belle si nous étions from “Chansons Françaises” |
| Ulvi Cemal Erkin | Dondurmaci, Salına salına, Biz canlari güle vermişiz, Sarı gelin from “Ten Turkish Folk Songs” |
| Francis Poulenc | Sept Chansons |
This sound journey between the two cultures, strengthened by Hindemith's biography and work, promises not only a musical experience, but also a deeper connection between the traditions and the contemporary historical significance of music.
For anyone interested in learning more about Paul Hindemith and his influence on Turkish music, take a look at the Hindemith website, which offers helpful information on the composer's biography.
The concert in Bordesholm is another example of how art and culture can bring people from different countries and backgrounds together. So be there when the sounds between the West and the East merge and experience an evening full of musical highlights.
Further details about the event can also be found on the SWR page, where you can find all relevant information about the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival 2025.