In front of an audience of 1,000 music enthusiasts, the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra showcased a special program brimming with oriental melodies, marking its return to the Thessaloniki Concert Hall following "La Traviata".
The evening opened with pieces by renowned Turkish composers from the previous century, such as Ferit Tüzün with his ‘Anatolian Candle Dance,’ highlighting the famous ‘Candle Dance,’ and Ahmed Adnan Saygun, whose melancholic cello concerto was mesmerizingly performed by leading Turkish cellist Nil Kocamangil. In response to the audience's warm applause, the soloist performed another of Saygun’s works, the solo cello partita.
The second part featured Rimsky-Korsakov's enchanting 'Scheherazade,' with the captivating Russian sand artist Katerina Barsukova illustrating the story through her impressive designs, as the orchestra narrated the tale musically under the baton of Nikos Chaliassas. It was an experience that delighted the audience.