zo 22 nov '26

Artvark Saxophone Quartet ft. Dilek & Derya Türkan

Istanbul Ekspres Festival

Traditions in dialogue with jazz

€ 20 Presale / € 23 Box Office
€ 17 Presale w/Uitpas & oKo-pas, -18j. & groups +10
€ 4,60 UiTPAS kansentarief

19:30 Deuren
20:00 Concert

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This event takes place at De Centrale

Colours of Istanbul and the Balkans

The Artvark Saxophone Quartet joins forces with singer Dilek Türkan, kemençe virtuoso Derya Türkan and an ensemble of leading Turkish musicians. Together, they reinterpret songs from the Balkans and Istanbul, honouring the original melodies whilst leaving room for improvisation.

The improvisational power of jazz meets the emotional expressiveness of Balkan music and the rich urban musical traditions of Istanbul, creating a surprising and contemporary soundscape. Enriched by the sounds of the kemençe, qanun and percussion, the music gains extra depth and nuance.

Credits
Dilek Türkan (vocals), Derya Türkan (Istanbul kemençe), Serkan Mesut Halili (qanun), Alper Kekeç (percussion) with the Artvark Saxophone Quartet: Rolf Delfos (alto sax), Bart Wirtz (alto sax), Mete Erker (tenor sax), Peter Broekhuizen (baritone saxophone)

More info

The Balkans is a region where people, cultures and languages have been intertwined for centuries. You can hear that rich history in the music too. Joy and sorrow, celebration and farewell, melancholy and a zest for life are often closely intertwined there. Istanbul, too, bears the marks of this history. Musically, influences from the Balkans, Anatolia, the Mediterranean and the Middle East resonate. This interweaving of cultures provides the fertile ground for music that sounds both familiar and surprisingly versatile.

With Dilek Türkan, this project welcomes a singer who has become one of the foremost interpreters of the classical Turkish vocal tradition. Her warm voice and sensitive interpretations lend each song a special intensity.

Derya Türkan is acclaimed worldwide for his mastery of the Istanbul kemençe. As an ambassador for this distinctive stringed instrument, he succeeds in bringing traditional music to life time and again.

The Artvark Saxophone Quartet has performed at major festivals and venues in the Netherlands and beyond. In addition to their solo concerts, Artvark regularly collaborates with other artists, such as the classical soprano Claron McFadden and composer Philip Glass.