Istanbul and Ankara Offer Packed Cultural Calendar for Early November

Both Istanbul and Ankara are set to host a range of classical, opera, ballet, and live music events during the first two weeks of November 2006.

In Istanbul, pianist Emre Elivar performs a Republic Concert at IsSanat Cultural Center on 7 November, featuring works by Beethoven and Schubert. A commemoration program honoring Ataturk, with songs he favored performed by the Istanbul Turkish Classical Music Ensemble, takes place at Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall on 10 November. Other recitals include violinist Suna Kan on 4 November and Russian pianist Mikhail Lidsky on 5 November.

The Istanbul State Opera and Ballet presents Verdi's "Otello" on 4 November, Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and the musical "Lend Me a Tenor" on 7 November, and the ballet "The Bride" on 10 November, all at Ataturk Cultural Center. Rock band Duman plays two Istanbul venues on 5 and 10 November, and DJ Johan Gielen performs at Balance Performance and Music Hall on 4 November.

In Ankara, Spanish flamenco dancer Aida Gomez performs "Carmen," while Ankara State Opera and Ballet stages Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" on 4 November and Puccini's "La Boheme" on 6 November.

Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.