Music

Son of the head of a troupe of whirling dervishes, Kudsi Erguner was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in 2016. For many years he has researched and documented nearly forgotten middle eastern music traditions and brought them to the attention of a new audience, in the course of which he has released more than 100 CDs. He is a world authority on Sufi music—a spiritual dimension of Islam, and the Turkish, Arabic and Jewish influenced music of the former Ottoman Empire.

His trio plays the most typical instruments of Turkish classical repertoire: the ney (an end-blown reed flute), the kanun (a string instrument) and percussion.

Erguner has collaborated with the acclaimed directors Peter Brook and Martin Scorsese on Hollywood soundtracks, while he composed music for the Béjart Ballet and performed at the Salzburg Festival as well.

In this concert Kudsi Erguner, Hakan Güngör and Hamdi Akatay perform colourful social music, drawing on centuries of music tradition from the rich culture of the Ottoman Empire.