GÜLSİN ONAY

I performed the very first big concert of my artistic life within the boundaries of Atatürk Cultural Centre. It was a highly memorable concert that took place in 1973, where I played IDSO and Rachmaninoff’s 3rd concerto in front of a crowd of 1,500 people and under the direction of Chief Mircea Basarab…

I do not remember the exact number of concerts I have performed in this art sanctuary, which was opened in 1969 as the 4th largest art centre in the world and has become, since then, the pride of our country. But I never forget the enthusiasm, excitement, and happiness I experienced there every time…

It is one of the most meaningful and beautiful memories of mine to have watched Kerem Operası in the Atatürk Cultural Centre, a work by my teacher Adnan Saygun, which I watched with him by my side. It was a huge show where the masterpieces of classical music and the works of some Turkish composers, which played a significant role in the development of Turkish classical music, were performed…

I performed Adnan Saygun’s 1st Piano Concerto in Atatürk Cultural Centre as the Athens Symphony Orchestra kindly accompanied me. Then, I witnessed the admiration and love of Greek musicians for our great composer and my teacher's enthusiastic performance of this masterpiece.

Our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk placed special importance to fine arts and considered them a part of the Republican Revolutions he carried out on our way to modernization. He pioneered the modernization of our country with the contemporary art institutions he opened. The role of the Atatürk Cultural Centre in spreading classical music in our country and its place in our social life are therefore indisputable. The fact that such a private art institution, which is considered a property of the society, remained closed to art lovers for a long time: 13 years. This has been a material and moral loss that cannot be measured and compensated by our country.

I wish all the best for the renovated building of Atatürk Cultural Centre, whose beautiful architecture, acoustics, and innovations, which are all in line with contemporary world standards, will be an achievement for our country, and we are all looking forward to seeing these. May our culture, music, and concerts be worthy of our great leader’s name and live forever...