― 12 июня 2013 г.
THE YUNUS EMRE ORATORIO: A MESSAGE OF UNIVERSAL PEACE
Yunus Emre, the greatest Turkish poet
of all times who skillfully described the perception and interpretation of
Islam by Turkish people is a unique personality in the history of the latter
who did not only master the language of poetry but also viewed love and
solidarity as a philosophy. His poems dealing with tolerance and love towards
all the people living on this earth have led him to remain alive in the hearts
and memories of people for 700 years. This is also what brought us to
initiate the Yunus Emre Oratorio project in 2012. Animated with the will to support wide-range
cultural exchanges, we realized this project to pay tribute to this great
Turkish poet. Hence, the concerts which took place under Rengim GOKMEN as
conductor in New York and Washington conveyed Yunus Emre’s message of universal
peace for a brighter future to the entire world. Within the framework of this
project the Yunus Emre Oratorio of the famous Turkish composer Adnan
SAYGUN which was performed by the American Jonathan Griffith Singers’
Choir in the most prominent concert halls of the USA has been an unprecedented
opportunity to introduce the unique components of Turkish culture such as peace
of mind, peace and brotherhood among all people to the citizens of
America.
This year’s highlight of the concerts featuring the
Yunus Emre Oratorio in Turkey has been the Premiere performance of a work
written by Christopher Tin, the famous American composer and holder of the
Grammy Award. Indeed, Tin composed a piece of music dedicated to the 20th anniversary
of TURKSOY on a poem of Yunus Emre which had never been taken as a basis for a
musical composition before. The American Jonathan Griffith Singers first
rehearsed with the Presidential Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey. This
has been the first step taken in Ankara for a long lasting friendship between Turkish
and American artists who came together on this occasion. The concert
performance itself was a unique moment of artistic joy and enthusiasm not only
for the musicians and singers but also for the audience.
The first concert of the choir conducted by Jonathan
Griffith took place on June 3rd, 2013 on the Opera and
Ballet Stage of the Ataturk Cultural Center at the Anatolian University
of Eskisehir. The audience in Eskisehir was literally enchanted by
the performance of the artists. The harmony and dialogue between the
Presidential Symphony Orchestra of the Republic of Turkey and the Jonathan
Griffith Singers once again showed that art and music are the most important
common language of the world. The brilliant performance of the choir and the
orchestra received standing ovations from the audience which thanked and
congratulated the artists after the concert. Our American guest artists were
particularly touched to perform this work of Yunus Emre in his hometown.
The last performance of the Yunus Emre Oratorio took
place on June 7th, 2013 in the Cemal Reshit Rey Concert hall
in Istanbul. Thanks to the contribution of the Union of Municipalities of
the Turkic World, the American choir members who came to Istanbul a few days
before the concert spent unforgettable moments in this historical city
linking East and West. The guests who were first taken
on a Bosphorus tour, later visited the Sultanahmet Square to discover the
traces of history and finally went to the bazaar prior to a dinner during which
they enjoyed Turkish cuisine. The members of the Jonathan Griffith Singers
Choir who said that they were particularly impressed by the magical and
inspiring atmosphere of Istanbul also expressed the fact that this
historical city looked like a fairy tale to them.
The concert which took place in Istanbul attracted
just as much interest as the ones in Eskisehir and Ankara. During the concert
which took place under Jonathan Griffith as conductor in the Cemal Reshit Rey
Concert hall, the choir was accompanied by the Istanbul Symphony Orchestra. The
concert which was fully booked was attended by many famous intellectuals as
well as critics and journalists such as Hıncal Uluç and Anjelika Akbar.
The greatest highlight of all the concerts which took
place in Turkey within the framework of this project was the artistic
performance of TURKSOY Secretary General Dusen KASEINOV who took the
scene as a violinist and played Christopher Tin’s work composed on a poem of
Yunus Emre. This premiere which was performed by Mr. Kaseinov literally
enchanted the audience.
Other soloists of the concerts which took place in
Turkey were famous artists such as Esin Talınlı, Ferda Yetişer,
Şenol Talınlı and Tuncay Kurtoğlu.
After the last concert in Istanbul, the members of the
Jonathan Griffith Singers Choir all expressed the fact that the time they
spent in Turkey will remain in their memories forever and be a major source of
inspiration for their future work as artists. All singers thanked TURKSOY for
having given them the opportunity to come to this beautiful country and
experience the unique hospitality as well as the artistic enthusiasm of the
Turkish people. The guest artists stressed the importance of art as a unique
platform to establish ties of great and long lasting friendships and said
that this project has been yet another occasion for them to experience this.
Now, the Yunus Emre Oratorio organized by TURKSOY has left its footprints
on the way to universal friendship, and the sound of its melodies will resound
in the sky, filling our hearts with peace, love and solidarity forever.
VOLKAN YEŞİLAY
Translated into English by Yasemin Vaudable
TURKSOY Translation and Interpretation Expert