A.M.BHATTI

ISLAMABAD: The Presidency of the Republic of Turkey will organize a concert with the slogan “From 7 hills to 7 continents” on April 23, National Sovereignty and Children’s Day.

 In the concert to be broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Directorate of Communications, a call for love and unity will be made to the whole world from the skies of Istanbul. In the concert, which will start with Yunus Emre’s words, “The world is my true ration, and its people are my nation”, a message of solidarity will be given to the whole world with the performances of our valuable artists at seven different locations in Istanbul during this tough period due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

 In addition to providing medical supplies to many countries battling the pandemic, the Presidency will emphasize the awareness of unity and integrity by bringing hearts together in Istanbul, where the continents meet.

Our pianist İdil Biret, one of the world’s leading performers of the 9th Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven’s piano compositions made by Franz Liszt, will perform this immortal work of art, also known as the ‘Symphony of Humanity’, in the Bosporus. Harpist Şirin Pancaroğlu and vocal artist Bora Uymaz will perform Yunus Emre’s cantus “Ben Yürürem Yane Yane” at the Maiden’s Tower.

 Ney performer Yavuz Akalın will perform “Segah Pesrev” (Yusuf Pasha) at Hagia Sophia, lute player Murat Bağdatlı will perform “Kürdilihicazkar Longa” (Kemani Sebuh) at Topkapı Palace, flute artist Elif Yurdakul Baykurt will perform “Syrinx” (Claude Debussy) at Galata Tower, tanbur player Özer Özel and kemancha player Aslıhan Özel will perform “Nihavend Saz Semai” (Mesut Cemil Bey) at Dolmabahçe Palace and the qanun player Serkan Mesut Halili will perform “Şehnaz Longa” (Santuri Ethem Bey) at Pierre Loti Hill. During the concert, which will be held with wonderful scenes of Istanbul in the background, works from both Classical Turkish Music and Classical Western Music will be performed, while the music will be accompanied by messages of love and unity belonging to important thinkers of the Eastern and Western world ranging from Yunus Emre, Mevlana, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli and Pir Sultan Abdal to Immanuel Kant, Thomas Aquinas, and Alphonse de Lamartine.