Ankara Became the Capital of ‘Culture Route Festival’
Türkiye Culture Route Festival, organised by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism and spanning across 16 cities, Ankara was one of the festival’s stops. Aimed at enhancing Türkiye’s cultural brand, the festival brought together vibrant events from various artistic disciplines for the city’s residents to enjoy.
Kubra Nur Nilufer – Culture & Art Editor
Musical Vibes in the Capital
Concerts that stood out with their wide range, from classical Western music to Turkish pop, were among the high-energy events of the festival. The Ankara Culture Route Festival, which kicked off on 21 September, opened with a concert by one of the world’s most prestigious art institutions, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra. Held at CSO Ada Ankara, the concert was conducted by Maestro Cemi’i Can Deliorman, with pianist Gökhan Aybulus as the soloist.
Prominent Turkish rock and pop artists such as Ziynet Sali, Emre Fel, Ebru Yaşar, Emre Altuğ, Haluk Levent, Fatma Turgut, Gazapizm, Murat Boz, and Simge performed live during the festival in the capital.
Among the international guests of the festival was the Mariinsky Orchestra, one of Russia’s most renowned ensembles, led by conductor Valery Gergiev. The orchestra’s history dates back more than two centuries to the first orchestra of the St. Petersburg Imperial Opera. The Mariinsky Orchestra performed at CSO Ada Ankara on Saturday, 28 September at 8:00 p.m.
The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin was another guest group performing as part of the festival. Under the baton of Robin Ticciati, they took the stage at CSO Ada Ankara on Sunday, 6 October at 8:00 p.m. The concert featured violin virtuoso Isabelle Faust, who performed Ludwig van Beethoven’s Violin Concerto. In the second half, Jean Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 was presented.
Artists from Around the World in Ankara
Another highlight of the festival was its exhibitions, as the capital welcomed leading names from Turkish and international art scenes. As part of the 2024 Hungarian–Turkish Cultural Year, Hungary’s Győr Ballet Company performed at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. The troupe delivered a performance exploring the many facets of love, sharing the stage with renowned pianist János Balázs.
Meanwhile, CerModern hosted an exhibition titled “Instinct and Software Grammar,” featuring works by young artists from the Hungarian National Bank Art Collection. The exhibition was open until 10 November.
Andy Warhol, one of the brightest artists of the 20th century and a pioneer of the Pop Art movement that brought ordinary objects and celebrities to the forefront of art, was celebrated at CSO Ada Ankara with the “Warhol’s World – Icon of Pop Art” exhibition. The “From Painting to Ceramics: A Journey – Pablo Picasso Exhibition,” featuring over 80 works by Pablo Picasso, was also open to visitors at the Ankara State Museum of Painting and Sculpture as part of the festival.
New media artist Refik Anadol’s “Earthly Dreams: Anatolia” was on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, awaiting art enthusiasts. The “From Sketch to Pixel: Digital Art – Anatolia Edition” exhibition was located in the Shelter of the Republic Museum (Second Grand National Assembly of Turkey).
The “No Escape” exhibition and “The Ceramic Heritage of Anatolia: Rebirth from Archaeology to Art” were on display at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
The “Hagia Sophia: Light and Time” exhibition and “Matrakî: A Star of the Ottoman Empire” were open to visitors at the Presidential Library of the Republic of Türkiye.
At the 15 July Democracy Museum, visitors could explore the “Hanzala by Naji al-Ali” exhibition, which showcased the works of Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali, focusing on his country’s struggle for freedom through his iconic Hanzala character.
The City as a Theatrical Backdrop
The festival, which featured plays from State Theatres across Türkiye, brought numerous productions from different cities to the capital.
The Istanbul State Theatre (DT) production Acaibü’l Temaşa premiered on 21 September at Akün Stage, while another Istanbul DT play, Outside the Doors, greeted audiences on 24 September at the Cüneyt Gökçer Çayyolu Stage. The long-running hit The Professional raised the curtain at the Etimesgut Municipality State Theatres Stage on 25 September. A theatre classic, The Taming of the Shrew, was performed on 29 September at the Büyük Theatre.
Other productions included Othello by Bursa DT and Highway Dogs by Trabzon DT. Ankara DT staged The Chekhov Machine on 27 September at the Küçük Theatre, and Les Misérables was performed on 28 September at ATO Congresium.
