Ministry Denies Embargo On Say As Musician Issues Open Letter To Gov't

The Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry issued a written statement on Thursday rejecting allegations that a state-funded orchestra is imposing an embargo on works by classical pianist-composer Fazıl Say after the musician issued an open letter to the government.

The ministry said in its statement that three works by the composer were already included in the past season's programs in Turkey's state-run orchestras.

Besides firmly rejecting the claims of censorship and embargo against Say, the ministry reiterated a statement made on Tuesday by Undersecretary Haluk Dursun to the Radikal daily that the İstanbul State Symphony Orchestra would be performing a concerto by the composer at an upcoming concert in May 2015.

The statement followed immediately on the heels of Say's open letter to the Turkish government on Thursday about the claims that his works were removed from the Presidential Symphony Orchestra's (CSO) repertoire for the 2014-2015 season. The claims were first made public in an article on Oct. 19 on the website sanattanyansimalar.com.

Say, currently in China for an Asian tour, issued his open letter two days after saying on his Twitter account that he's being “rendered unable to present my art in my native land.”

In his letter, addressed to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik as well as “all [Turkish state] officials,” Say called for more freedom of artistic expression in Turkey.

He added that the removal of his works from the CSO's repertoire wouldn't make a huge difference, as he is an acclaimed musician who already performs around 130 concerts around the world annually.

“While I was on tour in Japan, three of my compositions were removed from the [yearly concert] program [of the CSO] in Ankara, drawing criticism both in Turkey and abroad. Not a nice situation at all. I have things to say. I hope you read and try to understand this human being,” Say wrote in his letter.

Noting that his Echo Klassik Award-winning “İstanbul Symphony,” one of his works claimed to have been removed from the CSO's program, was already in the repertoires of over 50 orchestras worldwide, Say added: “Dare to be proud of this. Fear not, it's just a music piece. Dare to change your 'repressive' approach. … Let [the audiences in] Ankara hear this piece.”

Say continued: “[I have] written 56 pieces. It's not a big deal for [me] that three of these are prevented from being performed in Ankara. Only, the world looks upon this repressive approach as shameful. … Don't be afraid of being able to extend a hand.”

An outspoken critic of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Say also admitted to being on opposing sides with the government since they came to power and demanded to get back his post as founding artistic director at the Antalya International Piano Festival, from which he resigned this summer, citing political differences with the city's mayor Menderes Türel. “We have never been able to get along with this government. … These [instances] have always been regarded as outlandish; they made no one happy. Give this team that created a music festival on a global scale in Antalya back their jobs; we created that festival; with all our efforts, ideas, creativity, it is our right [to continue making this festival]. Create new possibilities for this team to put together more festivals of this kind in other [Turkish] cities,” Say added.

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)