November 30, 2026 – CSO ANKARA – BLUE HALL

International artist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Şefika Kutluer will dedicate her concert to the memory of children who lost their lives in the war. Kutluer will highlight that music is not merely an art, but also a common language for peace, friendship, and humanity.

The Voice of Great Ancient Civilizations on the Same Stage

During the evening titled “The Voice of Great Ancient Civilizations – Turkish-Iranian Friendship Concert,” Şefika Kutluer will perform alongside traditional instrumentalists from Iran.

Pieces that bear the traces of the strong bonds forged between Turkish and Iranian musical cultures over the centuries will be brought to life by Şefika Kutluer’s flute, accompanied by ancient instruments such as the tar, santur, kanun, oud, and bendir.

Known as the “Magic Flute,” Şefika Kutluer will build a musical bridge between two cultures by blending the flute’s universal sound with the deep-rooted musical traditions of Anatolia and Iran.

This special evening will be more than a concert; it will be an artist’s voice speaking out against children’s suffering, a message of friendship between two ancient cultures, and a musical gathering dedicated to peace.

 

Let no children die.

Let music bring life, let peace bring life

Şefika Kutluer, one of Turkey’s leading cultural ambassadors, has given countless concerts across five continents worldwide and recorded 17 albums; she is the recipient of the “Italian State Order,” the “Austrian State Gold Order,” the “Kazakhstan State Order of Culture,” and the “Golden State Medal of Honor of the Slovak Republic.” She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

She is also the artist who received the “Presidential Grand Award for Culture and the Arts” in the award’s first year, in recognition of her contributions to Turkish culture.

All of Kutluer’s CDs have received the “Gallo Gold CD Award” and are released by Gallo International under the “Gold CD Collection” label. Furthermore, his album *Carmen Fantasy*, released by Sony Classical, was honored with the “Sony Masterworks” “Gold CD” award.

Şefika Kutluer, known in the world of classical music by the title “The Magic Flute” bestowed by The New York Times, was honored with the “BraVo International Best Classical Music Performer Award”—one of Russia’s most prestigious awards—by a jury composed of international authorities, and received her award at a ceremony held at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. She performed a concert accompanied by the Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra.

The 17th International Şefika Kutluer Festival, themed “East Meets West” and organized by State Artist Şefika Kutluer, is currently underway at the Ankara CSO ADA Blue Hall.

THE INTERNATIONAL ŞEFİKA KUTLUER FESTIVAL HAS BEEN RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY FOR 17 YEARS

For 17 years, including during the pandemic, the International Şefika Kutluer Festival—which has continued without interruption, become institutionalized, and been followed with great interest by art lovers—has seen Şefika Kutluer, who both organizes the festival and serves as the soloist for the concerts, leverage the international connections she has built over the years to bring artists, orchestras, and conductors from many countries to our country…

The “International Şefika Kutluer Festival,” which began in Ankara in 2010 and expanded to various cities across Anatolia in subsequent years, has to date featured artists from Germany to Russia, China to Mexico, Korea to Greece, Austria to the United States, Portugal to Luxembourg, from Khakassia to Slovenia, from Serbia to the Czech Republic, from Kosovo to Kazakhstan, from Switzerland to Montenegro, from Poland to Lithuania, from the United Kingdom to France, from Albania to Israel, and to Spain—featuring a diverse array of performances, exhibitions, and presentations.

The International Şefika Kutluer Festival was named first place in the “Best Festival” category at the “Ace of MICE Awards 2020,” considered the Oscars of the events industry.

This year’s festival, held at the CSO ADA Ankara Bankkart Mavi Hall, once again features a program Ankara’s art lovers will enjoy.