By Umer Nangiana
Katara Cultural Village foundation is all set to present the Borusan Quartet and Ozgur Mert Esen on piano performing together to explore the blend of local and universal music.
The award-winning Borusan Quartet was founded in 2005 in Turkey and have made their mark on the music industry. The quartet have been recognised with awards both at home and at the International Chamber Music Competition held in the USA in 2010.
They will perform before a Doha audience on May 4 this year at Katara.
Under the guidance of Maestro Gürer Aykal, the Borusan Quartet have joined master-classes of Alban Berg Quartet, Juilliard Quartet, Gürer Aykal, Joshua Epstein and Maxim Vengerov. In addition to their regular performances at the Süreyya Opera House in Kad?k?y, Istanbul, the Quartet enjoys a busy schedule with concerts and tours in Turkey and abroad.
They have participated in Schleswig-Holstein, Merano, Mozart, Bodensee, Istanbul and Ankara music festivals and in addition to many venues in Turkey, appeared at Zurich Tonhalle, Carnegie Hall, Konzerthaus (Berlin), Le Corum (Montpellier), Schloss Elmau (Germany) and G Verdi Hall (Milan).
The quartet has received the “Chamber Ensemble of the Year” award at the Turkish Andante magazine’s first Classical Music Awards in May 2010 and the same year, won the gold medal at the 2010 ICMEC International Chamber Music Competition, the finale of which was held at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, New York, USA.
Until now, they have given the world premieres of works by contemporary Turkish composers Oguzhan Balc?, Mahir Cetiz, Turgay Erdener, ?zkan Manav, Alper Maral, Turgut P?gün ve Hasan Uçarsu written for them. Their first CD Erkin, Aykal, Saygun featuring String Quartets of the composers in the title was published in May 2013.
The Borusan Quartet enjoys chamber music partnerships with distinguished artists such as idil Biret, Faz?l Say, Itamar Golan, Valentin Erben, Gülsin Onay, Hüseyin Sermet, Rusen Günes, Reto Bieri, Toros Can, Ferhan-Ferzan ?nder and Muhiddin Dürrüoglu.
Their repertoire encompasses a wide range of works from the classical period to the modern era with particular emphasis on the works of Turkish composers.
At Katara, they will collaborate with Ozgur Mert Esen who is considered as one of the important interpreters among the new generation of Turkish pianists. Graduating from renowned St. Petersburg State Conservatory with distinction, Esen is the prize-winner of several national and international piano competitions and performs in globally acclaimed venues and festivals.
A truly accomplished pianist, Esen has performed in over 300 concerts since 1990 and has won national and international piano competitions. Ever versatile, his stage renditions include solo recitals, chamber music, accompaniment and symphony orchestra solos.
Prior to joining Qatar Music Academy (QMA), Esen lectured at the Anadolu University State Conservatory for 12 years, imparting his expertise in professional solo piano.
The Borusan Group’s first venture into the field of culture and arts was the foundation of the Borusan Chamber Orchestra in 1993. Conducted by Saim Akç?l at the time, it was one of the first private orchestras in Turkey.
Depending on the specific concert programme, the orchestra’s size varies from anywhere between 25 to 50 musicians, all of whom are also members of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Borusan Chamber Orchestra performs concerts in Istanbul, as well as other cities in Turkey and has also participated in the Budapest Spring Festival in Hungary. In June of 2007, the Orchestra performed in the 35th International Istanbul Music Festival, under the direction of Joseph Wolfe.
In Istanbul, its concerts are held in the Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall and Caddebostan Culture Center throughout. Among the respected conductors who have directed the Chamber Orchestra in the past are Gürer Aykal, Vasil Kazanciyev, Emre Arac?, Michael Nebe and Alpaslan Ertüngealp. For the past two seasons, the Borusan Chamber Orchestra has been conducted by Joseph Wolfe.
TALENTED: Pianist Ozgur Mert Esen has a distinct playing style.
