CSO’s 200th Anniversary Crowned With A Magnificent 500-Voice Concert On World Choral Day – Review

One of Türkiye's most venerable cultural institutions, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO), marked World Choral Day with an unforgettable musical celebration during the special period of its 200th anniversary. Held at the CSO Ada Ankara Ziraat Bank Main Hall, the concert powerfully showcased the unifying force of polyphonic music, bringing together nearly 500 choristers on stage.

Under the baton of Cemi'i Can Deliorman, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra performed Carmina Burana, the immortal masterpiece by German composer Carl Orff, one of the cornerstones of the world classical repertoire. With its monumental forces and distinguished soloists, the evening unfolded with a grandeur befitting CSO's two-century-long artistic legacy.

The soloists of the evening were:

• Ceren Aydın – Soprano
• Erdem Erdoğan – Tenor
• Faik Mansuroğlu – Baritone

Through their powerful interpretations, the soloists vividly conveyed the dramatic intensity and rhythmic drive of Carmina Burana, successfully reflecting the work's theatrical depth.

The concert also featured the State Polyphonic Choir, conducted by Burak Onur Erdem, and the State Polyphonic Children's Choir, led by Mine Özalp and Oğulcan Gökalp, performing in seamless unity with the orchestra. This grand convergence of hundreds of voices compellingly demonstrated the collective strength and expressive power of choral music.

In his remarks prior to the concert, Cemi'i Can Deliorman expressed his great pleasure in taking part in such a large-scale project within the scope of CSO's 200th anniversary, emphasizing that the event stood as a meaningful example of artistic solidarity among institutions.

Organized as part of World Choral Day, the concert attracted strong interest from music lovers in Ankara. The audience, filling the hall to capacity, responded with prolonged standing ovations, celebrating this monumental interpretation shaped by the rhythmic vitality and exuberance of Carmina Burana.

As part of the CSO's bicentennial celebrations, this event was recorded as a landmark concert—one that carried the orchestra's deep-rooted heritage into the future while leaving a lasting imprint on the city's artistic memory.