‘Festivals are creative platforms for artists. Festivals should endeavour to present artists a unique environment where they can dream; provide them with a platform where they can research and exchange ideas; even take it a step further and maintain a space for creative risk-taking. We always show regard to this mission in shaping our festival programme, in commissioning works, and when asking for thematic special projects from soloists and ensembles. We present artists an opportunity to ‘dream.’’

Yeşim Gürer Oymak
2006-2018 Istanbul Music Festival Director

Steve Reich – 2024
Steve Reich – 2024 Jacob’s Ladder
Co-commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival, Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, BBC Radio 3, Festival O/Modernt, Fundação Casa Da Música, Radio France And Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Onur Türkmen – 2024
Onur Türkmen – 2024 Lemon Tree
Commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival funded by Ernst Von Siemens Music Foundation, World Premiere
Dimitris Skyllas – 2024
Dimitris Skyllas – 2024 The Last Anthem
Co-commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival and Cappella Romana funded by Ernst Von Siemens Music Foundation, World Premiere
Fazıl Say - 2023
Fazıl Say - 2023 Dünya Anne
Commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival, World Premiere
Cem Esen - 2023
Cem Esen - 2023 A Piece to Joy, op.33
Co-commissioned by TSKB & Istanbul Music Festival, World Premiere
Meriç Artaç, Aida Shirazi, Kate Moore - 2023
Meriç Artaç, Aida Shirazi, Kate Moore - 2023 They Have Waited Long Enough - A new composition in three parts, dedicated to Shahmaran, Kassia and Suat Derviş respectively
Co-commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival, Wonderfeel Festival ve Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, World Premiere
Michael Ellison - 2023
Michael Ellison - 2023 The Legend of the Thousand Bulls, music theatre based on Yaşar Kemal's novel
Commissioned by Istanbul Music Festival, World Premiere
Tan Dun - 2022
Tan Dun - 2022 Double Concerto, for violin, piano, and string orchestra with percussion
Co-Commissioned By Istanbul Music Festival, New Century Chamber Orchestra, Odessa Classics Festival, and Borusan Sanat
Thomas Adès - 2022
Thomas Adès - 2022 Shanty – Over the Sea
Co-commissioned By Istanbul Music Festival, Australian Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Münchener Kammerorchester, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Kammerorchester Basel With Gstaad Menuhin Festival & Academy, Turkish Premiere
Peteris Vasks - 2021
Peteris Vasks - 2021 String Quartet No.6 (2019)
Istanbul Music Festival, Philharmonie Essen, Autumn Chamber Music Festival Riga, and Wigmore Hall co-commission with the support of André Hoffmann, president of the Hoffmann Foundation, Turkey premiere
Hasan Uçarsu - 2020
Hasan Uçarsu - 2020 Earth Loves People One by One
Istanbul Music Festival and Tekfen Foundation co-commission funded by Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, World Premiere
Turgay Erdener - 2020
Turgay Erdener - 2020 Pastoral Nonet “alla turca”
Istanbul Music Festival commission, World Premiere
Zeynep Gedizlioğlu - 2019
Zeynep Gedizlioğlu - 2019 New Opus for Two Pianos
Istanbul Music Festival commission funded by Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, World premiere
Alexander Tchaikovsky - 2019
Alexander Tchaikovsky - 2019 3/7/12
Istanbul Music Festival and Sochi Festival co-commission, World Premiere
Dobrinka Tabakova - 2018
Dobrinka Tabakova - 2018 Concerto for Two Pianos, Percussion and Strings “Together Remember to Dance”
Commission of Amsterdam Sinfonietta / Muziekgebouw Aan ’T Ij; Istanbul Music Festival co-commission with Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre De Picardie – Région Hauts-De-France and BBC Concert Orchestra, Turkey Premiere
Philip Glass - 2017
Philip Glass - 2017 Sypmhony No.11
Istanbul Music Festival, Bruckner-Linz Orchestra, Liverpool Royal Orchestra, and Queensland Symphonic Orchestra Co-Commission, Turkey Premiere
Özkan Manav - 2016
Özkan Manav - 2016 Ludus Modalis
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Michael Ellison - 2016
Michael Ellison - 2016 The Sea-Crossed Fisherman, total music theatre based on Yaşar Kemal's novel
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Tigran Mansurian - 2015
Tigran Mansurian - 2015 Sonata da Chiesa for Viola and Piano, in memoriam Komitas Vardapet
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Hasan Niyazi Tura - 2015
Hasan Niyazi Tura - 2015 Song of a Martyr
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Fazıl Say - 2014
Fazıl Say - 2014 Sait Faik
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Alexander Raskatov - 2014
Alexander Raskatov - 2014 Crying in the Wilderness, for mixed chorus and large orchestra on texts of Ephrem the Syrian
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Peteris Vasks - 2013
Peteris Vasks - 2013 Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, “Klatbutne”
Istanbul Music Festival, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Cello Biënnale Amsterdam Co-Commission, Turkey Premiere
Kamran İnce - 2013
Kamran İnce - 2013 Nasreddin Hodja
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Giya Kancheli - 2012
Giya Kancheli - 2012 Lingering
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Fazıl Say - 2012
Fazıl Say - 2012 Symphony No. 2, op.38, “Mesopotamia”
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Turgut Pöğün - 2011
Turgut Pöğün - 2011 Musics I
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
İlhan Usmanbaş - 2011
İlhan Usmanbaş - 2011 Concerto
Istanbul Music Festival Commission, World Premiere
Yukarı