Şefika Kutluer Festival Opens 30 November With Türkiye-Iran Concert
The festival opens at CSO ADA with a concert dedicated to children who died in Iran.
The 17th International Şefika Kutluer Festival will open on 30 November with a Turkish-Iranian friendship concert at CSO ADA Bankkart Mavi Salon, according to Sabah. State Artist Şefika Kutluer, known as the “Magic Flute” (Sihirli Flüt), organises the festival and performs as its soloist.
The opening night is titled “Kadim Medeniyetin Sesi” (“The Voice of an Ancient Civilisation”). Its message is “Çocuklar Ölmesin” (“Let Children Not Die”). Kutluer is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She will dedicate the concert to children who lost their lives in Iran.
Şefika Kutluer Festival: What the Opening Night Offers
Kutluer will play her flute alongside traditional instrumentalists who travel from Iran. The programme features works that reflect the long musical connection between Turkish and Iranian cultures. The report names five instruments: tar, santur, kanun, ud and bendir.
These instruments are central to the region’s classical and folk music. The tar and the ud are lutes, the santur is a hammered dulcimer, and the kanun is a plucked zither. The bendir is a frame drum.
Kutluer will describe music as a shared language of peace, friendship and humanity, the report says. The concert is presented as both a cultural meeting and a message for children’s welfare.
A Festival That Has Run for 17 Years
The festival has continued without a break for 17 years, including the pandemic period, Sabah reports. Over time it has become an established date in the classical music calendar. Kutluer uses her international contacts to bring artists, orchestras and conductors from many countries to Türkiye.
This year’s theme is “East Meets West” (Doğu Batı ile Buluşuyor). That idea suits a flutist whose repertoire is often described as linking Turkish and European traditions. The opening concert puts the eastern side on stage through Iranian instruments.
The dedication to children is Kutluer’s own message, as reported by Sabah. The concert is a musical programme, and no further details about the circumstances behind the dedication were given in the report.
What Is Still to Be Announced
The report confirms the opening date and venue but does not list the full festival schedule. Details of later concerts, guest artists and ticketing were not available at the time of writing. Readers who plan to attend should check CSO ADA’s official programme for updates.
Source: Sabah
Featured image: Bahar / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
