One of the leading composers of Modern Turkish Music, Cemal Reşit Rey (1904-1985) is one of the first generation composers of the Republic. He has his signature under the operetta “Lüküs Hayat” (The Luxury Life) which has been the longest staged operet in Turkey. Cemal Reşit graduated from the Conservatoire de Paris two months before the founding of the Republic. Meanwhile, the Istanbul Municipality decided to add a Western Music department to Darülelhan (the first conservatory) and invited young Cemal Reşit as a tutor. He was only 19, a great career was waiting for him in Europe, but he returned to Istanbul despite all the objections of his teachers. Perhaps he left his career in Europe, but he led the establishment of classical music in Turkey, trained many students and became number one of the music society.
Today, from October to May, it is possible to see concerts, dance and ballet shows and various special performances in the concert hall which bears the name of this significant composer of Turkey.
The ensembles such as CRR Istanbul Symphony Orchestra, CRR Turkish Music Band, CRR Bigband Jazz and CRR Reed Soloists show that venue point is a very important cultural center in Turkey.
Many valuable artists such as Julian Lloyd Webber, Vladimir Spivakov, Heinrich Schiff, Alexander Rudin, Rudolf Baumgartner, Philippe Genty, Paco de Lucia, Micha Maisky, Shlomo Mintz, Al di Meola, Spyro Gyra, Aziza Mustafazadeh, Chick Corea, Apocalyptica, Jean Luc Ponty, Jack de Johnette, St. Petersburg Balesi, Bolşoy Ballet Dancers, and Charlie Haden shared their performances with the art lovers of Istanbul, in CRR. The CRR Concert Hall, the only concert hall of Istanbul with a capacity of 860 seats, is in an area where the social and cultural structures meet, where Lutfi Kırdar Convention & Exhibition Center, Military Museum, Hilton Exhibition Center and Harbiye Military House are located.
It is almost a tradition in Istanbul to have some drinks after a concert in CRR. Thus CRR has a special importance because of its proximity to Nişantaşı, a popular district of Istanbul. There are a lot of venue choices in Nişantaşı for either before or after the concert.
Enjoy the show!
www.crrks.org
