A Great Pride; Renan Koen´s Holocaust Concert Together with Presidential Symphony Orchestra

Translation by Janet MITRANI

On the evening of January 27th, Renan Koen performed as the pianist during the Presidential Symphony Orchestra's concert led by Conductor Gürer Aykal.

I was going to Ankara and all I had to do was cancel my return ticket, call Renan, and ask her to arrange an invitation for me. Many thanks to her, she arranged it. I was really mesmerized when I entered the concert hall. The stage, which can be watched almost from all around was rather interesting. The stage was almost in the middle of the concert hall.

The first of the two-part concert consisted of the composition titled 'Past Inspirations (Geçmiş Esintiler)' which Ali Darmar composed for harp, flute, and strings. This concert also acted as the world premiere of the composition. The second piece of the first part was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto Number 24, consisting of three parts, in which Renan Koen was at the piano as the soloist. It is clear that I am no authority in this. However, I sincerely feel that Renan performed it quite successfully.

Those who know Renan also know that she has devoted her life to all forms of music. Renan who has also researched extensively on the works Jews had composed at the ghettos and camps during the Second World War, played her celesta (celesta= a struck idiophone in the shape of a small upright piano) while Michel Assael's 'Auschwitz Symphonic Poem' was being performed during the second part of the concert. The Renan I know has most certainly reached the heights of pleasure while this piece was being performed. This presentation was also a Turkish premiere.

Until today we had never seen nor heard a musician from our [Jewish] community perform on the stage together with the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, thus the title of the article. Renan you have every right to be proud of this success of yours; know that you also have made us proud.

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