Orchestras
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra
Borusan's entrance into the often complex and challenging world of establishing orchestras was based on its vision of helping to bring polyphonic music to a wider audience of Turkish people. The foundation for the now renowned Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (BIFO) was set in place with the creation of the Borusan Chamber Orchestra in 1993. This group rapidly grew in both number of musicians and quality of musical performance, so much so that it became a symphonic orchestra in 1999. That same year the illustrious Gürer Aykal was appointed as the General Music Director and Permanent Conductor of the Orchestra.
On the memorable night of May 13, 1999, at the Yildiz Palace Silahhane Building on the European side of Istanbul, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra performed its first concert. Under the leadership of Gürer Aykal BIFO was restructured and soon began offering concerts on the Anatolian side of the city, as well. By the end of 1999, BIFO was performing two concerts per month, one on each side of the Bosphorus, at the Lütfi Kırdar Concert Hall on the European side and at the Kadiköy People's Education Center on the Asian side, thereby quickly becoming a true city orchestra. This pattern continues until this day, totaling twenty-four concerts per year, with performances on the Anatolian side now being held at the Caddebostan Cultural Center.
The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra entered the new millennium with a focus on the compositions of Beethoven, with each performance of the 2000-2001 season featuring the works of the famous composer. BIFO ended its season that year by performing the opening concert at a colossal cultural event, the 18th International Ankara Music Festival held between April 28 and May 16, 2001. For that special occasion BIFO presented Beethoven's "Laws of Music", a rendition which has not only contributed richly to the heritage of symphonic music, but one which has also greatly enhanced Borusan's reputation and legacy as a world-class orchestra. The following year, in March of 2002, the Orchestra performed at the March Music Days in Rousse, Bulgaria, a prestigious international music festival which has been held every year since 1961. On that occasion, BIFO played one concert during the festival itself, as well as the concert finale.
As BIFO moved into its fourth season, it continued to expand both its repertoire and geographical scope. The 2002-2003 season ended with a one week Southern Anatolian tour, which included concert performances in the cities of Diyarbakir, Mardin, Urfa and Gaziantep. Another significant milestone was reached that same year when The Borusan Center for Culture and Arts came to an agreement with the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) to become the permanent or Resident Orchestra for all of IKSV's activities, including the International Istanbul Music Festival, the International Istanbul Film Festival and the International Istanbul Theater Festival. This exclusive relationship was launched in June of 2003 when the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra performed the opening concert at the 31st International Istanbul Music Festival in the venerated Hagia Sophia Museum. The following summer, in June of 2004, the Orchestra opened the Music Festival at the glorious Hagia Irene Museum, which was commissioned by Roman Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century.
Prior to the opening of its sixth season, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra traveled to the Turkish province of Kars, near the border of Armenia, to perform a special concert at the 2nd Annual Kars Caucasian Cultural Festival on September 24, 2004. The performance itself took place in the ancient city of Ani, which was once the medieval capital of the Armenian kingdom. BIFO returned to Istanbul to open its 2004-2005 season the following month with a concert featuring the famed cellist Wolfgang Boettcher. Its 2004 November and December concerts featured the prominent pianist Fazıl Say and soloist Maxim Vengerov, respectively, the latter being the highlight of BIFO's annual "New Year Celebration" performance.
In 2005, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra hosted American pianist Norman Krieger in it first concert of the year in January, the famous piano virtuoso Hüseyin Sermet in February, American violinist Robert McDuffie in March and Borusan's own young violoncello artist Efe Baltacıgil, currently building a career in the United States, in its April edition. BIFO rounded out its 2004-2005 season by giving the concert for the finale of the 22nd Annual International Ankara Music Festival, as well as the opening concert of the 33rd Annual International Istanbul Music Festival. The Orchestra completed its busy summer by presenting a concert in July at the 22nd Annual World Architecture Congress held in Istanbul.
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra's 2005-2006 season was kicked off in Athens in September with a memorable performance of Oresteia by Iannis Xenakis, one of the most important contemporary Greek composers. BIFO was accompanied in the concert by a Greek choir and soloist. The Orchestra returned to Istanbul to begin its Istanbul season with concert hosting Fazıl Say. BIFO returned to Athens in November for a special performance in the world-class Megaron Concert Hall, presenting the works of Turkish composers and accompanied by the well-known Greek pianist Dimitris Sgouros. Also in November of 2005, the Orchestra gave the opening concert at the Eskişehir International Music Festival. This was followed by a concert in Istanbul featuring Olga Borodina, the celebrated Russian mezzo-soprano, as soloist. The remainder of the illustrious 2005-2006 season was highlighted by the guest performances of soloists such as Emre Şen, Steven Isserlis, Joanna MacGregor and Domenico Nordio, plus a concert featuring Rengim Gökmen as guest conductor.
The 2006-2007 season, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra's eighth, opened in September of 2006 with an exceptional treat—the performance of Dmitri Shostakovich's 14th Symphony, accompanied by soloists Irina Rubstova and Dimitru Stepanoviç. In October, BIFO traveled to Brussels, Belgium to give a special concert during TÜSİAD's Turkey-Europe Week to commemorate the first anniversary of the beginning of full membership negotiations between Turkey and the European Union. On that special occasion, under the masterful baton of Gürer Aykal, the Orchestra performed the works of Franz Schubert, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ferit Tüzün at the spectacular Palais des Beaux-Arts, an Art Nouveau masterpiece. Back in Istanbul, guest musicians during Borusan's entertaining 2006-2007 season included Turkey's own pianists Gülsin Onay and Emrecan Yavuz, Argentine bandoneon virtuoso and composer Dino Saluzzi, pianist Peter Jablonski, conductor Alain Paris and the legendary Juilliard String Quartet.
Over the years, the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra has introduced music lovers in Istanbul to some of the world's foremost musicians. The Orchestra has had the privilege of performing with virtuosos such as Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Gluzman, Dimitris Sgouros, Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, Alexander Rudin, Suna Kan, Idil Biret, Fazıl Say, Ayşegül Sarıca, Meral Güneyman, Ayla Erduran, Verda Erman, Gülsin Onay, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, George Zamphir, Olga Kern, Corey Cerovsek, Stanislav Ioudenitch, Tomohiro Okumura, Wolfgang Boettcher and Dino Saluzzi. Celebrated guest conductors who have led the Orchestra include Igor Oistrak, Emil Tabakov, Giuseppe Lanzetta, Fabiano Monica, Alain Paris and Ender Sakpınar. In addition, BIFO has also been accompanied by the Wiener Singverein, one of the world's leading choirs.
One of the most popular traditions in its short history is Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra's annual "New Year Celebration" concerts. Held in December of every year, these highly anticipated performances are known for bringing cheer and goodwill to Istanbul during the festive season, not to mention positive cultural attention, through the participation of highly regarded local and world-renown musicians.
However, there is another new tradition that is rapidly growing in popularity: the Guest Conductor Series, whose launch was perhaps the pinnacle of the 2005-2006 season. Breaking new ground in Turkey, Borusan innovatively conceived the idea of having a distinguished personality from the business world lead the Orchestra as Guest Conductor for one memorable evening each year. These celebrities qualify for this honor by making a sizeable donation, the proceeds of which are used to fund a scholarship for the study abroad of a promising young music artist.
The inaugural concert in the Guest Conductor Series, held on February 9, 2006, was led by none other than our own Mr. Ahmet Kocabıyık, Chairman of the Board of Borusan Holding. Under Mr. Kocabıyık's impressive conduction, the Orchestra performed the Carmen Overture by Georges Bizet. For its second annual Guest Conductor Series, Borusan had the honor of hosting an icon from the Turkish business world, Mr. Rahmi Koç, who so ably conducted BIFO on the memorable evening of September 26, 2007. Proceeds from this concert served to provide a scholarship for budding bassoonist Burak Özdemir. In just two years, Borusan's Guest Conductor Series has already created a stir of excitement in Istanbul's business and cultural circles and music lovers across the mega city are anxiously looking forward to the next concert of this kind.
The future of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra is beyond brilliant. A source of great pride and joy to Turkish people everywhere, particularly Istanbul's educated and cultural elite, BIFO will continue to serve as a bridge between the people of Turkey and the best of polyphonic music. The days ahead will see Borusan carry on its tradition of linking music lovers with some of the world's top virtuosos, at the highest international standards in the arts, all in keeping with Borusan's rich heritage of excellence.
