Mersin Hosts World Music Stars

The 14th Mersin International Music Festival will be launched with a press conference today. The event will enliven the southern province until May 24. The winner of the fifth composition contest of the Mersin International Festival will be announced tonight.

The festival's first concert will be a very special one on April 30 at the Atatürk Culture Center. Internationally acclaimed Turkish pianist Fazıl Say's "Istanbul Symphony" will be performed by the Mersin Festival Orchestra, which was formed this year, under the baton of İbrahim Yazıcı.

Following the opening concert, Die Wiener Strauss Company will take the stage on May 2 at the Atatürk Culture Center. The Vienna-based band will bring works by Mozart and Strauss to the stage.

Pagagnini, which is an innovative, non-text musical show that brings to life some of the most treasured musical pieces in the world in the key of comedy, will be on the stage on May 3 at the Mersin Culture Center.

The musicians play, dance, jump, laugh, cry and interact with the audience, converting the show into an original comedy where the violin and the cello transform themselves spontaneously into new and original instruments.

World famous Turkish violin virtuoso and composer Göksel Baktagir and Japanese Koto artist Atsuko Suetomi will be accompanied by reed flute artist Eyüp Hamiş on the stage on May 6. The concert will bring together the Far East and Anatolia through music at the Catholic Church.

On May 10, the band Le Div4s will perform at the Atatürk Culture Center accompanied by the Mersin Festival Orchestra. Le Div4s is an ensemble of four Italian sopranos, created by Italian producer Francesca Volpini, with the vision of presenting a new singing concept to the public. The all-female ensemble brings an innovative interpretation of the most famous opera highlights by the greatest operatic composers in history.

Renowned virtuosos will bring local music of the world to the stage on May 12 at St. Paul Museum.

The festival will present on May 13 famed Turkish harpist Bahar Göksu and her band. They will perform songs from Refik Fersan and Faize Ergin, as well as songs from their album "Rüzgar Uyumuş." The concert will be at the Tarsus American School.

On May 14, ballet lovers will have chance to see the world famous ballet stars from the Tokyo National Theater, the Moscow Bolshoi, the Dutch National Ballet and the National Ballet of Portugal along with Turkish ballet dancers at the Atatürk Culture Center.

Unforgettable songs by Zeki Müren

The well-known, unforgettable songs by late Turkish classical music artist Zeki Müren have been reinterpreted for a Turkish Classical Music orchestra. These songs will be presented to the audience at a concert titled Turkish Classical Music Selections from Local to Universal on May 19 at the MBB Congress and Exhibition Hall.

Famous Czech stars Adriana Kucerova and Grammy Award-winning Turkish tenor Bülent Bezdüz will give a concert accompanied by the Mersin State Opera and Ballet Orchestra on May 22 at the Mersin Culture Center.

The closing concert of the festival will be held on May 24 by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra under the baton of State Opera and Ballet General Director and General Art Director Selman Ada. Famous French showman and pianist Roberto d'Olbia will accompany the orchestra at the concert to take place at the Mersin Culture Center.

Free events

The festival will also offer some free events. Within the scope of the Free Open Air Events of the festival, Turkish tenor Hakan Aysev will take the stage along with the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality City Orchestra on May 9 and 10 at the Forum Sanatçılar Square.

Turkish folk music singer Kubat and Folklorama will take the stage with Mersin Festival Orchestra on May 15, 16 and 17 at three different venues.

The Choirs Festivity, organized annually by the Mersin Polyphonic Choirs Association, will be organized within the festival this year and choirs from all around Turkey will perform together on May 15 and 16.

(PHOTO) - Istanbul