Fazıl Say: Sound bridges between West and East at SHMF 2025!

Fazıl Say: Sound bridges between West and East at SHMF 2025!

As part of this year's Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the focus is on the internationally celebrated Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say. As NDR reports, Say fascinatingly combines Western classical music with the facets of Turkish folklore, which he describes as versatile and rhythmic. Irregular time signatures and a rich musical heritage are the key factors that shape his music.

Say, who was born in Ankara in 1970, will be the festival's portrait artist with a large program of 17 concerts. Various orchestras are invited to present his symphonies, and the festival team even selected his works in Istanbul two years ago, underlining the artist's close connection to his hometown. On the chamber music front, Say will perform with well-known musicians such as clarinetist Sabine Meyer and cellist Nicolas Altstaedt.

A musical experience in a class of its own

Particular mention should be made of the mandolin concerto, which was composed for the virtuoso mandolinist Avi Avital and will have its premiere on July 13th. In addition to this highlight, Say also brings songs by Schubert and Ravel to the stage, together with the Turkish soprano Görkem Ezgi Yıldırım. In keeping with his philosophy that music as a universal medium builds bridges between cultures, he offers his audience a rich mix of Eastern and Western sounds.

In addition to symphonies, his musical work also includes works that are inspired by his cultural roots, especially in Istanbul. As the SHMF reports, the works of traditional Turkish music, including Black Sea dances, Mesopotamian and Kurdish music as well as Sufi music, will form an important part of its program.

A look back at Fazıl Say's career

Fazıl Say has been known as a musical prodigy since his early childhood and began playing the piano at the age of three. His first composition, the piano sonata, was written at the age of 14. In 2010 he performed his first symphony, the “Istanbul Symphony”, which is now often performed in Germany. A real highlight of his career was the premiere of the violin concerto “1001 Nights in the Harem”, presented by Patricia Kopatchinskaja.

But Say doesn't just impress his listeners musically. He has also become polarized with his political statements, which have brought him into the headlines, such as his indictment in Istanbul in 2012 for allegedly insulting religious values. Most recently, a planned performance with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra caused a stir, but was canceled due to controversial statements. Nevertheless, Say remains a key figure who has a broad influence in both music and social discussions.

This year's festival, which focuses on Fazıl Say, will have the theme of celebrating cultural diversity and the bridges built through music. With 17 projects that captivate audiences and a clear focus on the integration and understanding of Eastern and Western music, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival represents a hopeful oasis of creativity.