THE FIRST SOLO VIOLA PLAYER AT THE LEIPZIG MDR RADIO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF GERMANY

The First Solo Viola Player at the Leipzig MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra of Germany

At your concerts you play a J.B.Vuillaum violin of 1840 make, and a Zanetto Peregrino viola of 1560 make. Don’t you think this is “too much” of instruments? For how many generations of artists did they keep company? How much do you know about them? Would you like to talk about the stories of your instruments?

A well-built, old –and well-preserved- string instrument is highly motivating as it encourages the player to play enthusiastically. I am pretty lucky I think. My violin is a Vuillaume, which is the Stradivarius of France. It really has a magical tone. I enjoy playing it at concerts and sharing its magical tune with the audience.

And my viola… Believe it or not it is 450 years old. The times when the famous luthier Zanetto Peregrino built it coincides with the time Michael Angelo lived. It is thrilling to be able to play a violin that lived the Renaissance. Also, it is an oversize viola. A normal viola is 40 to 42 cm, but this one is 46 cm. So, a subtle and sonorous sound comes out of it. It is blessed with some sort of depth that consecrates the soul. The audience can tell the difference right away.

And my viola…

Believe it or not it is 450 years old. It is thrilling to be able to play a violin that lived the Renaissance.

Since April 2017, you are the first solo viola player at the Leipzig MDR Radio Symphony orchestra of Germany. How is it meaningful for you to become the first solo viola player?

MDR Radio Symphony Orchestra is the oldest radio symphony orchestra in Germany. The orchestra was established shortly after the radio was invented. The first performance of remarkable composers, Britten and Shostakovich, in Germany was made and recorded with this orchestra. The solo viola group of the orchestra never had auditions in the last 30 years. It is therefore a source of pride that a Turk is selected at the very first audition in 2017 after 30 years. It is a privilege for me to become the first solo viola player, to be playing at the most prestigious music halls for over hundred concerts together with the world’s most remarkable conductors and soloists, and to make music in a city where composers such as Bach, Mendelsohn, and Wagner spent a substantial art of their lives.

In 2007, Aldemir was awarded the second prize in the violin category at the 14th International Johannes Brahms Competition and two special prizes. Winning the third prize for his viola performance in the same competition in 2008, as well as the award for best interpretation of a contemporary work, he became the first participant in the history of this competition to win five prizes. The artist's other accomplishments include “The passion for music, strong artistic temperament” award in the 2006 Premio R. Lipizer Competition, finalist of the 8th International

Violin Competition Vaclav Hulm in Zagreb 2005,

Essen Folkwangpreis

2002, Westphalia Culture Award 1998, and first prize in the Young Talents Violin Competition of Istanbul 2000.

You have innumerable achievements and were awarded so many prizes. Is there anything that is special to you amongst others?

I was awarded 5 prizes in violin and viola at the Johannes Brahms Competition in 2007 and 2008. That is important for me. Being awarded as such made a history at the competition.

You were born in Istanbul. Is it inevitable to live in the western world when you are dealing with the western music?

Yes, Europe is the territory where classical music was born. When living there, one gets to see it clearly that this is music very much appreciated and respected. States, municipalities, private sectors protect and preserve the culture. In Germany, almost every city has a theatre/opeara/symphony orchestra of its own. Families take their children to concerts since very young age. The audience is very interested and respectful even in a house concert in Germany. They care to talk to the artist after the concert. The intellectual level of these house concerts is very satisfying, I must say. It is inspiring to make music in such an environment.

Atilla Aldemir has been awarded the prestigious National Donizetti Music Awards as 'The Best String Player of the Year 2011'.

Both lived only thirty-one years in this world. And both of them composed timeless Works in such a short time. We refer to the Austrian composer Schubert, and the Ottoman composer Şevki Bey. How did you combine the two music genius?

The project called İki Şehir Bir Aşk (Two cities, one love) is a project by Kudsi Ergüner, a very precious master of ney. The project was inspired by the life stories of the two great composers and the similarity between their compositions. They are referred to as amongst the richest composers of Song and Lied, which are very similar indeed. If Schubert is the father of Lied form, a product highlighted by the German Romanticism, Sevki Bey is the great master of song form of the Ottoman Romanticism. I played violin for Schubert’s compositions at the concert. The Works by Şevki Bey were performed by Kudsi Ergüner while I, accompanied by other instruments (qanun, tambour, and piano) took part in his elegant melodies. It was an amazing meetup in terms of culture and music.

Do you have any other projects like Schubert and Şevki Bey for the upcoming period?

Currently I am working on “Royal Minstrels of the 17th Century” project with Derya Türkan, a very unique player of kemancha. We are going to perform works by Ali Ufki Bey (originally named Bobowski), and Dimitri Kantemiroğlu, the early composers who were brought to the Ottoman territories as captives during the 17th century and who notated their compositions after that. We are engaged in arranging their compositions so as to make the rest of the world hear of them. Derya Türkan (kemancha), Eric van der western (contrabass,from the Netherlands), Çağrı Serter (pianist), and I will be giving concerts in Leipzig, Halle, Dessau, Prenzlau, and Berlin /Germany in November this year. The audience will absolutely perceive the touch of Renaissance on these interesting works and how the warfare of the time was influential on music.

I am also working on recording all sonatas and partitas with viola which were originally composed by Johann Sebastian Bach for violin. Once this album project is complete, I will have performed – after

300 years- the viola-adapted version of these works the composer composed in Köthen, Germany in 1720. I am recording the album at the church where Bach was the kapellmeister. By the way, the viola I am playing is older than Bach himself.

If Schubert is the father of Lief form, a product highlighted by the German Romanticism, Sevki Bey is the great master of song form of the Ottoman Romanticism.

After graduating from the State Conservatory at Mimar Sinan University, you were granted the Dr. Nejat F. Eczacıbaşı Foundation scholarship, you completed your postgraduate studies with Lukas David at HfM Detmold in Germany in 1999. Scholarships are undoubtedly crucial for providing young talents with the correct education. How do you evaluate Turkey and Europe when it comes to quality and aptly use of the education scholarship?

As you might be guessing, there are more opportunities for scholarship in Europe. Some foundations like the Nippon Foundation provide the scholarship students with valuable music instruments. Sadly, the number of foundations and funds that provide scholarships/ music instruments to the classical music musicians are very limited in Turkey. The scholarship that I was given by Eczacıbaşı was very important for my studies in Germany. I want to talk briefly about the newlyformed Sarias Foundation in Berlin. The foundation began to provide scholarship to the young talents that go to Germany from our country. They also support cultural events substantially. I am thankful that business people love and protect art and the artist. Link to the cited Sarias Foundation: https:// sarias-stiftung.org/de/

In an interview, you say “I want to go to one village from another to give concerts, play violin for kids.” Why do you want it? How far are you from realizing it?

I gave school-wise concerts to introduce violin to the children at and around Bozüyük where my parents come from. I have a dream of turning this to a system and spread to most of the villages throughout Anatolia.

Sarias Foundation in Berlin began to provide scholarship to the young talents that go to Germany from our country.