Two of the European Cultural Capitals in 2010 – Istanbul and the Ruhr area – were united in the personality of the composer and pianist Fazıl Say. He lives in Istanbul and had a five-year residence as exclusive artist at the Konzerthaus Dortmund, the largest city in the Ruhr area. This cooperation culminated in the highlight of a concert, the world premiere of Say’s Istanbul Symphony in which the composer has created a portrait of the city in seven movements capturing everyday situations and the atmosphere, history and people of this great metropolis.

I Nostalji · Nostalgia
II Tarikat · Religious Order
III Sultan Ahmet Camii · Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
IV Hoş Giyimli Genç Kızlar Adalar Vapurunda · Merrily clad young ladies aboard the ferry to the Princes’ Islands
V Haydarpaşa Garı’ndan Anadolu’ya Gidenler Üzerine · About the travellers to Anatolia departing from the Haydar Pasha train station
VI Alem Gecesi · Oriental Night
VII Final
Picc. · 3 · 2 · Engl. Hr. · 3 · 2 · Kfg. – 4 · 3 (3. auch Piccolotrp.) · 1 · Basspos. · 1 – P. S. (Xyl. · Trgl. · Marimba · Beckenpaar · hg. Beck. · Tamt. · Tamb. · Snare Drum · Tomt. · Tenortr. · gr. Tr. · Ocean Waves · Bar Chimes · 3 Woodbl.) (4 Spieler) – Hfe. – Nay* (ggf. verstärkt) · Kanun* (ggf. verstärkt) · Türk. Percussion (1 Spieler): Kudüm* · Bendir* · Darbuka* – Str. (16 · 14 · 12 · 12 · 8) *Die türkischen Instrumente können auch ersetzt werden. / The Turkish instruments may also be replaced: Nay: Altfl. & Engl. Hr. – Kanun: Cimbalom o. Hfe. & Klav. – Kudüm: Tablas o. Bongos o. Tomtoms – Bendir: Tablas o. Congas – Darbuka: Tablas o. Bongos