With Borusan's Touch, the City was Wrapped in Music: The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival Connected Music Lovers with a Range of Valuable Artists

The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival, which has become “an Istanbul Classic,” brought the city to life with music from May 21 to June 13, under the sponsorship of Borusan Holding and organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV). Hosting 25 concerts in 17 different venues, the festival provided an unforgettable experience to approximately 20,000 music enthusiasts over three weeks.
 

Supported by Borusan Holding from the very first note, the Istanbul Music Festival, organized by IKSV, once again brought the stars of classical music and prestigious orchestras to the city for the 52nd time. As Borusan Group celebrated its 80th anniversary, it continued its support for culture and the arts by sponsoring the Istanbul Music Festival, which has become a hallmark of the city.
 

Throughout the festival, which connected valuable artists with art lovers and covered the entire city with 25 concerts in 17 different venues, around 20,000 music lovers attended. The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BİFO) and the Borusan Quartet, key components of the festival, delivered unforgettable concerts with their enchanting interpretations and impressive performances. On June 2, Borusan Holding, as a high-contributing sponsor, supported the “Mozart Requiem by Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra” concert held at AKM, while Borusan Sanat supported the “A Premiere Night: Borusan Quartet & Synergy Vocals” concert on June 8 at the Süreyya Opera House as a high-contributing institution.
 

On Sunday, June 2, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by its permanent conductor Carlo Tenan, presented a magnificent concert that deeply affected the audience. The repertoire included Mozart’s unfinished Requiem and the captivating composition Pilgrim’s Song by contemporary composer ArvoPärt. Accompanied by the Hungarian National Choir and four star soloists from the younger generation, the concert showcased the Hungarian National Choir, a highly impressive choral group with 84 members bringing together the best voices from Hungary, as a guest of the festival in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Turkish-Hungarian Friendship Agreement. The soloists of the concert were Italian mezzo-soprano Cecilia Molinari and soprano Giuliana Gianfaldoni, South Korean bass Jongmin Park, and tenor İlkerArcayürek.
 

One of the festival’s highlights was the “A Premiere Night” performance by Borusan Quartet and Synergy Vocals on the evening of June 8 at the Süreyya Opera House. In line with its goal to broaden the reach of art, Borusan organized a live broadcast of this concert. The concert was simultaneously broadcast for free at Caddebostan’s waterfront, where attendees enjoyed a performance by DJ Barthez before the concert began. The unique performance by Borusan Quartet and Synergy Vocals was also shared with listeners through a joint broadcast on Borusan Klasik and Joy FM radios. On this night, conducted by one of Turkey’s prominent female conductors, SibilArsenyan, the Borusan Quartet performed the Turkish premiere of the American composer Steve Reich’s "Jacob’s Ladder." Members of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra also joined the evening, with performances of Glass and Mozart’s string quartets.
 

Borusan’s support goes beyond providing financial contributions; it also helps preserve and sustain classical music and the Istanbul Music Festival. By bringing classical music to a wider audience, Borusan makes significant contributions to Turkey’s cultural and artistic life. Borusan invited music lovers to join this special musical journey through its promotional campaign films. The 52nd Istanbul Music Festival films featured symbols of the city such as trams, ferries, and seagulls, sharing the message: “An Istanbul Classic, the heart of music now beats in all its voices in Istanbul.”
 

To watch the promotional films:
 

https://youtu.be/FErHnRhzXYo?si=0rBwiWahCoG_FJ2-

https://youtu.be/Ym3v9FnAonQ?si=YAhwUPPZnDNWAxkN

https://youtu.be/fA2LhRwfTJs?si=bFDGqlm41ZAyGJsh