Like Milliyet, Turkish daily Sözcü covered the Tarkan concert on its second page but from a “money” perspective. Sözcü gave a list of Turkish artists, along with Tarkan, who gave concerts during the Bayram holiday and how much they made from these concerts. Sözcü’s claim is that Tarkan got 400, 000 TL from the concert whereas Gazete 5 wrote that the money Tarkan earned was 225,000 TL.

“Gazete 5” also covered the Tarkan concert on its website, reporting that Tarkan had lots of tea and juice before the concert, sang 21 songs and did not talk much between the songs but welcomed his audience at the beginning of the concert, wishing them a happy bayram. According to the same source, Tarkan stayed the night in the Presidential Suite of the hotel.

As announced on its webpage, the ultra-luxury hotel Mardan Palace offered its customers a “Sacrifice Feast Package”, which included 5-night accommodation, buffet breakfast and buffet dinner, a gala dinner on November 17^th with Didar Çalık and a second gala dinner on November 19^th with Tarkan.

The report underlines that the promotional campaign with Tarkan to promote the sales of “Turkish oranges” has proven to be very effective and the contract with Tarkan has therefore been extended till the end of January 2011. The Group also said, in the report, that their agreement with Tarkan still continues in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

As TPI readers might remember, while Tarkan was in custody, there were rumors that the Citrus Group might terminate or not renew their contract with Tarkan. However, it seems that there has always been demand for Tarkan.

Below you can find my musical stops in London.

Musical Stop 1: The Wigmore Hall

During my four-day stay in London, I attended six classical music concerts. The first stop was at the Wigmore Hall, celebrating its 110^th anniversary this year.  I was there to attend a recital by the Georgian pianist Khatia Buniatishvilli who had given a concert earlier in İstanbul.

Khatia Buniatishvilli

Compared to venues such as Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican, the Wigmore Hall is smaller (800 seats) but has a “warm” atmosphere. According to the website of the Hall, approximately 400 events take place here every season with approximately 165,000 tickets sold each year. The Hall does not just host concerts but also offers lots of community and educational projects.

The Wigmore Hall has an award-winning record label called “Wigmore Hall Live”, which makes the live recordings of Wigmore Hall concerts timeless and memorable. You can buy these CDs in the lobby of the Hall or in good music shops within a reasonable price range.

In addition, many of the BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concerts are held here and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 between 1 pm and 2 pm on weekdays (local time) – just like the Khatia Buniatishvilli concert I attended on November 1^st, 2010. It was nice to know that as an audience I was part of a classical music concert that was broadcast nationwide on BBC Radio 3.

I am not in a position to comment on Khatia Buniatishvilli’s performance but I can confidently say that there was passion and warmth in her playing of the works by Schumann, Liszt and Stravinsky. (I later read some reviews in the British media and was pleased to find out that Khatia is regarded as an artist soon expected to be a big name in the classical music circles.)

While listening to Khatia and looking at the recording equipment in the left-hand corner of the concert hall (which probably belonged to BBC Radio 3), I could not help but think about the situation in Turkey; would any Turkish radio or TV stations dare broadcast such classical music concerts live? In the past, there was TRT 2 that regularly showed classical music concerts but since it was turned into a news channel, there has been no opportunity for watching a classical music concert on TV in Turkey. My readers would simply ask “What about TRT Radio 3?” But I am sure they all know that for years, TRT Radio 3’s signal has never been strengthened despite the fact that it is the only radio station in Turkey that has regularly played classical music for years and despite the fact that its audience has always complained about its poor reception.

Musical Stop 2: The Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is my favorite venue in London. According to the Hall’s official website, it was built “to fulfill the vision of Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s consort) of a ‘Central Hall’ that would be used to promote understanding and appreciation of the Arts and Sciences and would stand at the heart of the South Kensington estate, surrounded by museums and places of learning”.

The Royal Albert Hall has been in continuous use since it was opened in March 1871 and is the venue for all the main orchestral Proms. There are concerts and events in this magnificent venue throughout the year. If you happen to visit London between the second half of July and the second half of September, I suggest you attend one of the BBC Proms concerts here. It is an experience worth all the money you can pay. You may also like to take part in the tour of the Hall for approximately an hour to find out more about the history of the building.

I attended three concerts in the Hall in the first week of this month. On November 1^st , the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Ivor Setterfield and Barts Choir came together for Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem. The concert made me realize once again how intoxicating human sound could be.

Tasmin Little

The second concert I attended at the Royal Albert Hall was a real treat for me. Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the British violinist Tasmin Little played one of Mendelssohn’s most popular works, Violin Concerto in E minor. Tasmin Little is an important violinist whose “The Naked Violin” project is regarded as revolutionary in Britain. Through this project Tasmin Little offered a free downloadable recital of works for solo violin and an ongoing series of workshops and concerts around the country; within days of the launch of the project, there were over 6000 international websites linked to Tasmin Little’s website. Tasmin Little’s project promoted the value of music to all corners of society and received the 2008 Classic FM Gramophone Award for Audience Innovation.

The second part of the concert on November 2^nd included the performance of Dvorak’s masterpiece Symphony 9 known as “From the New World”. Like all other people in the Royal Albert Hall, I was left breathless by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance of the symphony. The atmosphere of the Royal Albert Hall strengthened the power of Dvorak’s music. While going back to my hotel by bus after the concert, I could not help listening to the symphony again, this time on my iPod.  It was definitely a timeless masterpiece!

Nigel Kennedy

The third concert was on November 3^rd and it unfortunately coincided with the Tube strike in London. When I left the hotel, the whole city looked so chaotic to me. Reaching the concert hall would be a nightmare but I was sure that it would be worth the effort. Nigel Kennedy, whose first landmark recording “The Four Seasons” earned a place in the Guinness Book of Records by selling over 2 million copies, was about to play Vivaldi live on stage. I was very excited. Before Kennedy and his Orchestra of Life appeared on the stage, the lady sitting next to me said it was her birthday and that the ticket for this concert was a gift from her husband.

And soon Nigel Kennedy, Yehudi Menuhin’s protégé, was on the stage with his orchestra. He was a virtuoso who enjoyed breaking the rules of classical music and the rituals of concert halls. During the three-hour concert, he just threw protocol out of the window. He welcomed one of the concert latecomers with a kiss, stole the drink of a female audience sitting in the front, made jokes, used F-words in a funny manner, used “Yeah”s and “Oi”s at key moments and danced tapping his feet. He even encouraged his audience to applaud between the movements of the concertos he and his Orchestra played. I never remember laughing at a classical music concert but one could expect anything to happen in a Nigel Kennedy concert. Apart from all this, Nigel Kennedy was a real virtuoso for sure. When I got on the bus, I had my iPod and eyes closed and listened to Nigel Kennedy playing Elgar’s The Lark Ascending.

Musical Stop 3: St Luke’s

Pavel Haas Quartet

On my last day of the visit, the Tube strike was over and it was easy to reach the Barbican to attend another BBC Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert – this time by the Pavel Haas Quartet. The concert was held in the LSO St Luke’s. Since I arrived at the Barbican a bit early, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Whitecross Street Market very close to the concert venue. The street was closed to traffic and there were lots of stalls where you could see and taste so many different kinds of home-made food. It was a slightly cold and windy but also sunny autumn day. The wind was helping the seductive smell of the food travel along the street. I even saw a Turkish restaurant called “İskele” there. Two elderly British men were sitting outside the restaurant, chatting and having their Turkish coffee. I walked along the street, looked at the stalls and had some coffee before the concert started.

And this was the information I was reading on my iPod before I got into the concert venue: “LSO St Luke’s is an 18th-century church, restored to become the home of the London Symphony Orchestra’s community and music education program LSO Discovery. As well as LSO rehearsals it plays host to a diverse selection of concerts and has seen artists and groups perform from across the spectrum: from Elton John, Sting and Bruce Springsteen to the London Sinfonietta.”

The concert was in Jerwood Hall, which had two levels, stalls and a balcony. You could sit anywhere you liked. I chose the second level and found a seat in the middle. It was a plain but lovely hall. The windows in the Hall made it possible for the audience to watch the then yellow autumn leaves outside in their undefeatable glory. It was like looking at the paintings in a pictue gallery. When I listened to Pavel Haas Quartet playing Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor and Ravel’s String quartet in F major, I could not help watching the autumn outside. The music and the autumn leaves danced so well with each other!

Pavel Haas Quartet included four musicians. They were all very young but so good. I had no doubt that they would have a bright future awaiting them. When I later checked the Internet for some reviews about the Quartet, I realized that I was right.

Musical Stop 4: Royal Festival Hall, Southbank

Sir Charles Mackerras Memorial Concert on the 4th of November was my sixth and last concert in London. Mackerras was going to make an appearance with the Philharmonia Orchestra in this concert. However, since he died in July 2010, the concert was changed into a memorial.

There was a lovely breeze outside the Royal Festival Hall so I spent some time watching the River Thames and the city behind it before the concert started. The crowds looked so far out from here. I felt so peaceful when the lovely breeze hit my face. I could have stayed outside longer but the music by Handel, Mozart, Janaceck and Dvorak was calling me in the Hall.

The concert venue overlooked the River Thames and was located in the Southbank Center complex, which also includes Hayward Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcel Room and Poetry Library. Buzzing with activity, the building has several places to eat and drink and a nice gift shop as well. When I looked at the complex from a distance, I just got the feeling that the whole of London was there dining and wining, waiting for the concert.

…

Back in Istanbul

I am back in Istanbul now. All my musical stops in London and the memories there keep calling me back… and telling me that I have “rebooted” myself. They are right. I have done so.

Let me see what’s next in Istanbul.

Like Scheherazade in the fairytale “One Thousand and One Nights”, the solo violinist in Fazil Say’s four-movement concerto embraces the role of a storyteller. As Barry Witherden from BBC Music Magazine says, in Say’s concerto, “the violin unspools fascinating tales, linking the movements with cadenzas which, as Say says, bind them into an ‘intensely atmospheric unity’.

Patricia Kopatchinskaya for whom this concerto is written, performs here in this recording and proves her virtuosity. Julian Haylock from The Strand, writes that Kopatchinskaja “traces the work’s seductive cool with such enraptured precision that it feels almost as though she is composing the music as she goes along”. According to Haylock, “this is mesmerising artistry, captured in state-of-the-art sound”.

The CD also contains three encores Fazil Say very often plays in his concerts: AllaTurca Jazz, Summertime Fantasy, and Patara Ballet. You will find it impossible not to be seduced by all these but especially by the lovely Patara  bearing Say’s signature as its composer.

If TarkanPLUS International readers would like to familiarize themselves with Fazil Say as a composer who finds inspiration in his roots for music making, “1001 Nights in the Harem”, we believe, would be a perfect choice.

When Tarkan works, he works in his own unique way, not trying to gain publicity through some futile act that would cause sensation. He makes music, performs and tries to draw people’s attention to environmental issues.

Recently Tarkan has made himself heard through his concert in Ankara and his collaboration with National Geographic.

In the first week of November, Tarkan was in Ankara for his concert in the Ankara Arena; the venue that had hosted the 2010 FIBA World Championship on November 6th. According to a report by Habertürk, the Arena, one of the largest venues in Turkey, was packed with people who wanted to watch Tarkan live on stage. There were many among the audience who came from neighboring cities and towns. The reports in the Turkish media all commonly quoted Tarkan saying “It has been very long since I last came to Ankara but it is well worth it!” In addition, Abdullah Ortaç, reporter for “e-ha”, underlined the fact that Tarkan hypnotised his audience with his songs and his performance in the Ankara Arena.

November 2010 has also witnessed Tarkan’s collaboration with National Geographic Turkey. At the beginning of the month, the wild life photographs Tarkan took in Masai Mara, Kenya, were published in the magazine along with an interview with him. The interview, no doubt, concentrated on Tarkan’s activism on environmental issues and his love of photography.

Tarkan took photographs for the National Geographic Magazine after he gave his voice to “Great Migrations”, a new National Geographic Channel documentary series.  Tarkan’s contribution to NGC by “giving his voice” to the series was widely covered by Turkish newspapers and on TV channels. The first episode of the documentary dubbed by Tarkan was broadcasted on November 7, 2010 in Turkey.

In the National Geographic Magazine interview, Tarkan explained how the collaboration with the National Geographic Channel started: “We were in a meeting discussing a different issue. This new project came up spontaneously. And I accepted it with no hesitation at all. I think my inner voice and enthusiasm about the preservation of nature just made it come true. When you want something to happen so much, it happens. This is what realized and learned through this project”.

In the interview, Tarkan also commented on the documentary: “This is certainly the best documentary ever made about the migration of animals. There is so much effort and sweat, patience and planning in this work. As a lover of nature, it was important for me to be involved in it. I found out new things about animals, which amazed me so much. “

After dubbing the documentary, Tarkan travelled to Kenya. It was his first ever visit to this beautiful land: “I found more than I had expected there. It was exhilarating to see the animals in their natural habitat. However, I was so worried to see that their natural habitat is getting smaller and smaller due to the rise in human population. I even sometimes felt uncomfortable touring in the parks thinking all these animals were being disturbed by the vehicles surrounding them.”

The most exciting moment of his journey in Kenya, Tarkan says, was when he saw the animals from above as the plane was about to land… and the magnificence of the stars in the camp.” (Maybe when the goddess of inspiration visited Tarkan…)

Tarkan also mentioned about his love of photography in the interview: “I took photographs non-stop. There were times when I left my camera aside to enjoy the moment. But I took so many photographs. And at nights, in my tent,  I uploaded these photos on to my computer… these were special moments. ”

The agreement signed by the Chinese and Tanzanian governments to build a highway through the Serengeti, the location of the Great Migration was another thing Tarkan highlighted in the interview: “I heard about it when I was in Kenya. This agreement will ruin wildlife, leading to the extinction of many species of animals.”

At the end of the interview, Tarkan also talked about his love of photography: “I first developed an interest in photography 4 or 5 years ago. I was amazed especially when these photographs made me aware of some details about the animals, things I had been unaware of earlier. And their beauty… I would like to improve myself as far as photography is concerned. I would like to get training in this. I think photography is my second obsession after music.”

Tarkan concludes the interview by highlighting his aim in taking photos: “Through the photogrpahs I take, I aim to share the beauty of nature and animals with others and especially with those who live in big cities and tend to forget all about nature.”

In addition to the news above, Akşam, Turkish daily, reported that Tarkan and Ajda Pekkan are currently doing a duet for Pekkan’s new album, which is due to be released in February 2011.

Last but not least, Tarkan will cover the December issue of Elle!!! The website of Elle magazine claims that Tarkan has broken all the taboos for them.Tarkan will be the first male artist gracing the cover of the magazine in 11 years’ time.

David Burton, the famous photographer who took Tarkan’s and the Swedish model Faye Vrethem’s photos in İstanbul for Elle, said in an interview in Turkish daily Radikal “working with Tarkan was easy; he is very professional. You don’t need to explain things; he just gets the hint”.

Burton, who photographed worldwide famous stars such as Kate Moss and Eva Herzigova in the past, also said in the Radikal interview that Tarkan looks very good in photographs.

And finally! Tarkan’s first music video from his album, ‘Adımı Kalbine Yaz’ (Write My Name Across Your Heart) is out!

TarkanPLUS International Comment: What stands out in Tarkan’s video clip “Öp”? Its dynamic nature, the successful use of space and camera movements, the very initial scene where Tarkan confronts himself in the mirror, the color white to refer metaphorically to ‘being cleansed from his sins’ and maybe most of all his tuxedo appearance.

Tarkan’s new music video has received media coverage as well: It was mentioned in the news programs of national television stations such as News with Can Dundar on NTV and Music News on Kral TV last night. In addition, referring to the opening scenes of the video, Hurriyet used the headline “Tarkan in Bed” on its webpage whereas Aksam chose to focus on the number of hits the video received as soon as it was available on Tarkan’s offical website: “Tarkan was “kissed” 92.000 times in 12 hours”.

Share your views and comments here.

Deniz – İstanbul/Turkey:

“I am a great Tarkan lover! I love his voice and music but also highly respect his presence, individuality and creativity. In fact his aura and existence is beyond time and beyond space…

I would hate to see Tarkan get hurt and condemn the ruthless criticism that too often surrounds him. However, considering Tarkan’s ‘noble’ presence, the lyrics of the song and the fact that he is supposedly portraying himself in the story, one wishes to see one female character only rather than so many ‘bums and boobs’ in his long awaited first video clip, ‘Öp’ (Kiss). This is not you Tarkan…”

The Anatolium Shopping Mall is Bursa’s largest shopping mall opening its doors oficially with the Tarkan concert.

Dilmener states that Tarkan’s new album is clearly better than his previous “Metamorfoz”; “It has the color and taste of albums like “Ölürüm Sana” and “Dudu”. Tarkan’s vocal style is just like the style he had in his heyday.” Dilmener adds, “except the song “Öp”, however, in his new songs, there is no room for new musical experiments which would help Tarkan move further. These are like the polished versions of Tarkan’s good old songs; they will be popular for a few months but in the meantime, Tarkan should take a step back to reflect on his work. He needs a new sound. He can’t say “I will go back to my roots”. This is not enough. In addition to Ozan Çolakoğlu, he needs to work with people like Nezih Ünen and Tarkan Gözübüyük, people who would be brave enough to experiment with a new sound for Tarkan…”

Yesterday’s concert was amazing as usual. Tarkan’s vocal strength, his persona on the stage, the way he ‘touched’ his audience, his energy, his aura and his songs all made August 30, 2010 a special day for Tarkan fans. It was amazing to see how everybody, young and old alike, knew the lyrics by heart; everybody sang along; everybody danced along and joined the flow. The audience was clearly impressed by Tarkan. And so was Tarkan by his audience, bowing and thanking them many times.

Tarkan also sang many songs from his past albums. While he was singing “Unutmamalı”, thousands of people accompanied him, an unforgettable moment both for the artist himself and the audience.

At the end of the concert, it was no surprise that the audience would not leave the theatre, asking for more Tarkan songs. Then he suddenly called behind the stage curtains asking “Do you want me to come back? OK I am… “ And …. the second time teasing his audience, “Wait, wait, where are you going? Is it bedtime for you already? Not for me.” He appeared again on the stage and conquered the hearts of his fans yet again!

If you missed his previous concerts, enjoy Tarkan on stage tonight or on September 4th for an additional concert at the same venue.