Grachtenfestival: HarmonEast Ensemble

Eastern and Western music meet

In the program Echoes of the Silk Road, the HarmonEast Ensemble brings together two musical traditions: Ottoman court music and European Baroque. The musicians demonstrate how these styles influenced each other throughout the centuries. Works by composers from both traditions alternate and reveal surprising similarities.

Unusual instrumentation with ney, piano, and strings

The instrumentation is striking: ney (Turkish reed flute), piano, viola, cello, and percussion. The warm sound of the ney forms a striking contrast with the piano and the strings. Together, the five musicians create a sound that you won't easily hear anywhere else. Julia Tavit (piano), Sukru Kirtis (ney), Wilker Paredes (viola), Beste Yildiz (cello), and Veysel Dzhesur (percussion) each bring their own cultural background.

International ensemble with a shared mission

The HarmonEast Ensemble consists of internationally active musicians who combine classical Western music with Eastern musical traditions. This results in a sound that is both recognizable and surprisingly new. The concert is made possible in part by the Amarte Fund.

Are you interested in this concert? Use the link for tickets.