A mesmerising performance

TURKISH composer and pianist Fazıl Say is set to mesmerise a packed out Salamis theatre audience tomorrow at an open-air 8.30pm concert with the TRNC Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

The internationally acclaimed, Ankaraborn virtuoso is fully booked this year with upcoming concerts in Germany, France, Austria, Turkey and Greece and a tour of Japan in early November.

The 16th International North Cyprus Music Festival programme promises performances of Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto

No 2 Op 22 and Say’s own Troy Sonata Op 28.

Despite the cancellation of two concerts by Greek Cypriot musicians due to protests in South Cyprus, the now 15-concert festival programme continues at Bellapais Abbey on Friday.

Burhan Öçal and Ukrainian pianist Alexey Botvinov offer an 8.30pm Reloaded-2 percussion and piano concert sponsored by Vodafone, which is part of a 20-date tour.

İstanbul- and Zürich-based Turkish musician Mr Öçal specialises in percussion and Turkish stringed instruments, plays in his own jazz/funk band and recently realised a project of Bach’s Goldberg Variations with pianist Peter Waters.

Tickets for Fazıl Say are priced at 80TL while Bellapais Abbey concert tickets are priced at 50TL, and all are available from Deniz Plaza bookshops, with some also sold on the door.

Turkish composer and pianist Fazıl Say is set to mesmerise a packed out Salamis theatre audience

Kaleidoscope Tourism have arranged bus transport from Girne to Salamis tomorrow which is priced at 30TL and seats may still be reserved by phoning 0533 827 1717.