Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra

The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra grew from the Borusan Chamber Orchestra into a symphonic ensemble under Gürer Aykal. Its work combines Istanbul concert seasons with festival appearances, recordings and international touring. Sascha Goetzel served as artistic director and principal conductor from 2009 to 2020, a period that included appearances at the Salzburg Festival’s opening festivities in 2010 and the BBC Proms in 2014. The orchestra was resident at the International Istanbul Music Festival from 2003 to 2018 and has also accompanied the Leyla Gencer Voice Competition. Its recordings for Onyx have ranged from Respighi, Hindemith and Schmitt to Turkish repertoire and twentieth-century Central European music. Educational and scholarship initiatives form another part of its activity.