MEDITERRANEAN WIND IN IZMIR
EUROPEAN JAZZ FESTIVAL
The Italian Group
Luigi Campoccia Quartet took their audience on
an unforgettable voyage in the 17th İzmir
European Jazz Festival . A true Mediterranean
wind blew in AASSM Small Hall with the
participation of Önder Focan, one of the premier
jazz artists of Turkey and ney master Şenol
Filiz to the band consisting of Luigi Campoccia
in piano, Daniele Malvisi in saxopohone, Rossano
Gasperini in acoustic bass and Paolo Corsi in
drum.
In the concert realized by the İzmir Foundation
for Culture and Arts with the cooperation of the
Italian Consulate in Izmir, Luigi Campoccia
Quartet performed their project ‘’On the Way to
Damascus’’ together with Focan and Filiz. . With
their music telling the fantasies and dreams
which are an integral part of our common
heritage of "inhabitants of the Mediterranean",
Luigi Campoccia Quartet presented the reflection
of the Turkish and the Westerner on each other
with a magnificent sound. The band who made
their audience live through a different
experience with their music was sent off with
long lasting applause.
Luigi Campoccia Quartet will conduct the Open
Jazz Orchestra Workshop studies on the days
March 5,6, and 7 in Academy İKSEV. The Workshop
will end with the final concert on March 7,
Sunday again in AASSM, the same night, the two
young jazzmen who will participate in Siena
Summer Jazz Masterclasses with scholarship will
be announced also.
IF JAZZ AND FLAMENCO GET
TOGETHER, THE OPENING IS MAGNIFICENT
The 17th İzmir European Jazz Festival
started with an unforgettable show. At the night
organized by Izmir Foundation of Culture, Arts
and Education (İKSEV) with the collaboration of
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Antonio Najarro
Dance Company created wonders with the ‘’Jazzing
Flamenco’’ show.
Antonio Najarro, one of the outstanding
choreographers and dancers of our day and his
dance group of 18 people interpreted jazz,
blues, soul, flamenco music with Spain’s magical
dance flamenco and ascended upon the throne of
hearts with their show which will not be easily
forgotten. At the night of which the tickets
were sold out days ago, the İzmirian artlovers
who filled Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center
expressed their appreciation with long lasting
applause.
The 17th İzmir European Jazz Festival
organized by İKSEV with the collaboration of the
Italian Consulate in Izmir, Izmir French
Cultural Center, Goethe-Institut Izmir and
Austrian Culture Office started with the 8th
Jazz Poster Contest exhibition and cocktail. In
the exhibition opening, President of İKSEV Board
of Directors, Filiz Eczacıbaşı Sarper presented
his prize certificate to Sinan Kapçak, the
champion of the contest and owner of the
Festival poster and participation certificates
to the young artists whose works were found
worthy of being exhibited.
The 17th İzmir European Jazz Festival
will continue with the ‘’Luigi Campoccia Quartet
- Önder Focan - Şenol Filiz’’ concert which will
be made on March 4, 2010 Thursday in AASSM Small
Hall with the cooperation of the Italian
Consulate in Izmir.
“Müsennâ” conquered France
“Müsennâ”, the highly acclaimed show of the 22nd
International Izmir Festival, was the favourite
of the “2009 Turkish Season in France” events.
“Müsennâ” production that was performed with the
support of İzmir Foundation for Culture, Arts
and Education, collaboration of İzmir and
İstanbul French Cultural Centers under direction
of Çimen Seymen, made the opening of
Sablé–sur-Sarthe Baroque Music Festival within
the scope of the Turkish Season in France with
its novel stage interpretation. After the show
Le Monde Newspaper said “The show enchanting the
audience with music, dance, pantomime, shadow
games which must absolutely be seen..” for
Müsennâ.
The Minister of Culture and Communication of
France Frédéric Mitterand, Ankara Ambassador of
France Bernard Emié, Chairmen of the Turkish
Season Necati Utkan and Henri de Castries (Group
AXA) and the general curator Görgün Taner (İKSV)
attended the magnificent première that received
many more praises along with Le Monde. Müsennâ
which represents the court and mass
entertainments the French ambassador who came to
İstanbul in the 17th century has seen, also
gained the appreciation of the French Prime
Minister François Filon and President Abdullah
Gül as the most impressive Turkish Season
Project in France.
Müsennâ will open the gates of the east
In “Müsennâ”, of which the Project design and
direction belongs to the estimable musicologist
and soprano Çimen Seymen, the 17th century
European and Ottoman Music Research and
Application Group La Turchescha played Baroque
Music, and Cevher-i Müzik Group directed by
Hakan Cevher played Ottoman Music. Soprano Çimen
Seymen and songster Tolga Meriç sang the songs.
The musicians of Müsennâ show will give a
concert named “The Gates of the East” on
November 24, 2009 in the halls of Paris National
Library. On the occasion of this concert, Ali
Ufkî’s manuscript of 350 years preserved in
Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris will
be exhibited to public for the first time. In
the concert, Turchescha and Cevher-i Musiki
groups will perform the other works from Ali
Ufki manuscipt “Mecmua” of which transciption
was made by Prof.Dr. Hakan Cevher, and the
European works of the same epoch under the
conduct of Çimen Seymen.
After this concert, Müsennâ will go on a tour to
various cities of France. When it returns to
Paris on March 29, it will realize the final
show of the Turkish Season in the hall of the
llegendary Theater Bouffes du Nord.
“Müsennâ”
This show for which the “Müsennâ” technique
which is a style of writing of the same text
reciprocally from left to right and vice versa
in Otoman calligraphy is the source of
inspiration, reflects the 17th century
festivities and festivals of the Topkapı Palace,
French and Venetian palaces, embassies in
İstanbul and cosmopolitan cities.
The Polish musician Albert Bobowski, who was
re-named Ali Ufkî in the service of Sultan
Mehmed IV, recorded all the musical pieces that
he heard in İstanbul and the Topkapı Palace.
This compilation which is the witness to the
17th century Otoman music and was prepared in
the European musical note system is presented in
comparison with the music and poetry corpuses at
the European palaces in the Müsennâ show. The
stage setting in the form of reflections of
music and singing in the mirror is activated
with baroque dances and Turkish Folk Dances,
starting from the iconographic and written
resources of the period and illustrated with
visual arts. And a narrator who watches and
interprets the transitions of musical and
dancing scenes sets us off a journey to the East
with the texts of travellers.
Headings from other comments for Müsennâ
Les Echos newspaper “A wind of joy of life and
freedom was blowing at this night… There was a
dazzling dynamic with the stage design inspired
by the palaces, dancers, singers and wonderful
costumes of the acrobats…”
Le Figaro Magazine “a temporal, unexpected show
which encourages, revives, solaces the audience”
ResMusica “starting from the first moments,
Çimen Seymen’s voice is enchanting, baroque and
traditional instruments harmonize with each
other magnificently…. This show is like a mirror
with golden reflection… If it comes to your
city, certainly go, you will live fantastic
moments”
