Greek, Turkish and Lebanese musicians join forces to bring the Songs of Anatolia to Sydney

·

Greek, Turkish and Lebanese musicians are joining forces on Friday, August 12 for the much-anticipated Songs of Anatolia concert at the Sydney Opera House.

The concert will feature Byron Triandafyllidis (vocals and bouzouki), AyÅŸe Göknur Shanal (vocals), Cüneyt Ã‡akmak (kanun) and George El-Azar (percussion), and they will be bringing the music of Anatolia, the region where Europe and Asia meet, to the audience.

In an interview with The Greek Herald, Triandafyllidis says he’s looking forward to the performance in Sydney because the collaboration has been in the works for a while.

“I met AyÅŸe through George, the percussionist. She was visiting Melbourne at the time and I was doing a performance of Greek music at Queen Victoria Markets,” Triandafyllidis explains.

“I knew a few common songs from Turkey and Greece so I got her up to sing a few and she did and that’s basically how it all started.”

Triandafyllidis says the concert will incorporate his interest in rebetika and Asia Minor, as well as give him a chance to get in touch with his ancestral roots which are from Constantinople and Thrace.

“It’s an important concert because we live in a multicultural society and… for social cohesion as well, just to know where some of our heritage came from,” he adds.

For her part, AyÅŸe tells The Greek Herald the concert will share a repertoire of music “that doesn’t leave anybody out from Anatolia.”

Ayşe Göknur Shanal.

“It will be really, really interesting for the audience. There is so much body of repertoire from different parts that haven’t even been explored yet and we will do that,” she concludes, while encouraging everyone to attend.

To find out more about the Songs of Anatolia concert, visit this website.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Attica fire subsides as Australian helicopters assist

A major wildfire that erupted in low vegetation between Palaia Fokaia and Thymari, southeast of Athens, is now in remission.

Mitsotakis urges EU to rethink strategic approach to defence and migration

Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has urged the European Union to adopt a more strategic stance toward countries not aligned with the bloc’s CFSP.

Iranian leader declares victory over Israel, dismisses US strikes as ‘exaggerated’

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has resurfaced to declare victory over the US and Israel following an American military strike.

Chris Christofi becomes highest fundraiser in Vinnies CEO Sleepout history

Melbourne entrepreneur and long-time Vinnies ambassador Chris Christofi has raised $400,000 in this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Over $17,000 raised for St John NT through Darwin GleNTi 2025 festival

More than $17,000 was raised for St John NT at this year’s Darwin GleNTi festival, thanks to the generosity of attendees.

You May Also Like

Looking back at history before ANZAC troops landed at Gallipoli in 1915

Ahead of ANZAC Day on April 25, we look at the importance of looking back before the Gallipoli landing in 1915.

Greece and Cyprus sign landmark cultural cooperation agreement

Lina Mendoni, and Lina Kassianidou, have officially signed the first-ever Cultural Cooperation Agreement between Greece and Cyrpus.

Vasilis Berbatakis ‘steps up’ to help people suffering from cerebral palsy

Vasilis Berbatakis ‘steps up’ to help people suffering from cerebral palsy and shares his story with The Greek Herald.