HUMAN RIGHTS DAY CONCERT BRINGS ART LOVERS TOGETHER

This week, the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Rustam Rahmedov and featuring young violinist Elif Ece Cansever as soloist, came together with art enthusiasts for the Human Rights Day Special Concert. During the evening, the audience warmly applauded when Her Excellency Isabelle Dumont, the Ambassador of France to Turkey, played the cello alongside the orchestra.

In the first part of the concert, J. Brahms' Violin Concerto in D Major was performed. Composed for the famous violinist of the time, Joseph Joachim, the concerto is one of the most frequently performed works in the violin repertoire and holds an important place in classical music history. The Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra and violinist Elif Ece Cansever, who delivered a remarkable interpretation of the piece with its symphonic depth, technical challenges, and musical intensity, were warmly applauded. Returning to the stage after the applause, Cansever gave an encore with A. Igudesman's Applemania.

In the second part of the concert, Her Excellency Isabelle Dumont, the Ambassador of France to Turkey, took the stage to play the cello alongside the orchestra. In her speech, Dumont shared information about the composer Darius Milhaud and his work Le Boeuf sur le Toit ("The Ox on the Roof"), expressed her gratitude to Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce, and expressed her joy at performing with this esteemed orchestra. Her insightful comments on the pieces were warmly received.

Le Boeuf sur le Toit, composed under the influence of Milhaud's years in Brazil and built around recurring melodies, stands out among the composer's major works for its humor, unexpected transitions, overlapping tones, and rhythmic vitality. Following this piece, the program continued with Latin American-inspired music. Danzón No. 2 by A. Márquez, inspired by the Mexican dance tradition of danzón, was performed. This work, which has become one of the iconic pieces of Mexican culture, was met with great appreciation from the audience.

At the end of the concert, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ayşe Ünlüce expressed her delight at bringing this special concert to life alongside Her Excellency Isabelle Dumont, the Ambassador of France to Turkey, saying, "We proudly held the France Days on December 10-12. This event was actually the dream of two women." In her speech, Ünlüce thanked the concert's sponsors, the Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce and the EU Information Center, as well as the Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra, the soloists, and the conductor. She added, "The greatest thanks go to the art lovers of Eskişehir, who have never left us alone on our 25-year journey."

Metin Güler, President of the Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce, also expressed his pleasure at being part of this special concert organized for Human Rights Day and thanked everyone who contributed to its success. The concert concluded following the presentation of plaques.

The Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality Symphony Orchestra will once again meet with its audience with a concert on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 8:00 PM at the Atatürk Culture, Arts and Congress Center.