A “Nation is Awakening” concert in Antalya

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, the symphonic work titled “A Nation Awakens,” composed under the sponsorship of Uludağ İçecek Türk A.Ş., is meeting with art lovers in various cities across Turkey. The concert held in Antalya as part of the Republic Day celebrations was filled with artistic moments.

The piece commissioned by Uludağ İçecek Türk A.Ş. from composer and conductor Oğuzhan Balcı made its premiere on December 10, 2023, with the Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra. Throughout 2024, the work will be performed in various locations across Turkey, including on May 18 by the CRR Symphony Orchestra at the Cemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall in Istanbul, and on August 31 by the Eskişehir Symphony Orchestra at the Eskişehir Atatürk Cultural Arts and Congress Center.

“A Nation Awakens” was presented as part of the Republic Day celebrations on October 25 at the Aspendos Hall of the Antalya Atatürk Cultural Center, accompanied by the Antalya State Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of composer and conductor Oğuzhan Balcı, and was met with enthusiasm from the art lovers in Antalya.

The work “A Nation Awakens,” which narrates the struggle for liberation led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the courage of the people, and love for the homeland, features Mezzo Soprano Aylin Ateş, Tenor Ufuk Toker, and Baritone Caner Akgün as soloists, with the narration provided by Writer Ersin Antep.

“I wanted to commemorate it in my own musical language”

At the end of the concert, where art lovers applauded the orchestra for minutes, Oğuzhan Balcı made a statement to reporters, saying, “I wrote music for a 10-part piece, with 3 soloists and a symphonic orchestra. Looking back, I can say that it is a symphonic work that tells the stories of the liberation period both in concrete and abstract musical sections.”

Emphasizing that music is a very powerful art form, Balcı said, “You can express all the emotions you want to convey through music. I wanted to commemorate the great leader Mustafa Kemal and many heroes, known and unknown, in my own musical language. In fact, I wanted to thank them.”

The work will be presented to numerous art lovers through concerts held in different cities throughout the year.