Special Episode of “Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları” — United Kingdom Tour

The Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları (Inspiring the Future Talks) video series continues to focus on the transformative power of art and the transmission of cultural heritage. This special episode takes viewers behind the scenes of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BIPO) and its highly acclaimed United Kingdom tour, which spanned five cities.

Launched by Borusan Holding in line with its sustainability focus areas—climate, people, and innovation—the Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları series takes a multidimensional look at sustainability, this time putting the spotlight on art.

The episode highlights how Borusan’s sustainability approach goes beyond environmental responsibility to include the preservation of cultural heritage and the support of artistic production. It showcases BIPO’s recent success story: a remarkable tour across the United Kingdom, completed with great acclaim.

Moderated by Barış Doğru, Editor-in-Chief of EKOIQ, the discussion features Sinem Balkan, Corporate Communications Manager at the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation; Kerem Gökbuget, Manager of Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and Borusan Quartet; and Aysun Öz, journalist and author who covered the orchestra’s London concert.

 

A Musical Journey Across Five Cities

Celebrating its 25th season, BIPO performed a series of concerts between April 4–11, 2025, in Perth, Edinburgh, London, Guildford, and Sheffield, captivating over 5,000 audience members. Under the baton of Carlo Tenan and featuring world-renowned cellist Pablo Ferrández, the orchestra was met with standing ovations for its stunning performances.

As in all its international tours, BIPO’s program included works by Turkish composers, serving as a cultural bridge. For this tour, the orchestra performed Muammer Sun’s “Dönüşüm (Transformation)” and Ferit Tüzün’s “Nasreddin Hoca Humoresque,” both of which received enthusiastic applause from audiences.

 

The Art of Cultural Sustainability

This special Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları episode delves into every stage of the tour—from concert planning and logistics to travel, rehearsals, and backstage preparations. It emphasizes the tour’s key role in Borusan Sanat’s cultural sustainability strategy, underscoring art’s unifying and healing power as well as the importance of promoting Turkey’s classical music heritage on the global stage.

The repertoire, shaped around the inclusion of Turkish composers, was designed to build a cultural bridge between Turkey and the world. The audience’s emotional responses and positive feedback once again demonstrated the universal power of music. The tour stands as a milestone in Borusan’s corporate memory and a valuable reference for future international projects.

The art-focused new episode of Geleceğe İlham Buluşmaları is available on Borusan Holding’s YouTube channel:
🎥 Watch here

 

Music Lovers Join BIPO’s Global Tour Journey

Music enthusiasts can follow the orchestra’s journey through the website www.bifoturne.com/tr, which serves as a comprehensive digital archive of the tour. The platform features rehearsal footage, behind-the-scenes interviews, concert photo galleries, and exclusive video content.

Under Carlo Tenan’s direction, BIPO will continue to proudly represent Turkey on the international stage with two upcoming performances at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival this September. The orchestra will make history as the first Turkish symphony orchestra to perform at the prestigious Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg.