World-renowned Greek pianist Dimitris Sgouros will be the guest soloist at a concert Saturday accompanied by the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra (BSO) as part of the 25th International Ankara Music Festival.

     A press conference was held yesterday at the Greek Embassy with the participation of Sgouros and Işın Metin of Bilkent University as well as several embassy officials.

  “I feel at home in Turkey. I have always had good relations and friendships here. It is the country I always wanted to come to, and I return to my country with success,” Sgouros said.  

  Sgouros, dubbed a child prodigy when he was young, is considered one of the most outstanding pianists of the 21st century and widely acclaimed for his superlative artistry and virtuosity. Since the tender age of 7 he has performed in major cities across five continents as well as in several Olympics including Seoul, Athens, Atlanta and Sydney. He will likewise be a guest at the upcoming Beijing Summer Olympics and is now firmly established as one of the leading pianists of the younger generation.

  He visited Turkey for the first time in 1989 for a concert, which was followed by several more concerts accompanied by the Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the BSO in Turkey. 

  In Saturday's concert, he will perform “Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26” by the 20th-century Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev as well as Swiss composer Arthur Honegger's “Second Symphony” accompanied by the BSO under the baton of maestro Emil Tabakov.

Performing Prokofiev a risk for artist

  It is taking a risk to perform Prokofiev's pieces, which are technically difficult to perform, according to him.

  “I am aware of the fact that I am taking a risk [by performing Prokofiev's pieces.] I am generally considered to be a representative of the classic and romantic movements. Yet I have always wanted to perform 20th-century pieces,” he said.

  “This piece requires a great deal of concentration, preparation and strong coordination among the orchestra, artist and the conductor. His pieces, which always have a separate place in the hearts of artists, are a kind of sweet impulse for the artists.”

  In response to a question from a member of the press regarding his thoughts as an artist on the relations between the two countries, Sgouros said there were no political problems between the people of the two countries.

  Referring to the friendships he developed in Turkey, he said, “music is a universal language. You develop such sincere friendships and relations that you can't even find something similar in your native country.”

  He then concluded his words in Turkish, saying “Sizi çok seviyorum” (I love you very much).  

  The concert will be held at the Bilkent Concert Hall at 8:00 p.m. Festival tickets are available from Biletix, at box offices and the Web site (www.biletix.com), the Diapason Music Store on Tunalı Hilmi Street, Dost bookstores at Bilkent, Çayyolu, Kızılay and Tunalı Hilmi, and at the Sanatolia box office at the Migros shopping center.

  Shuttle buses will be provided free of charge from Tunus Caddesi and Sıhhiye Köprüsü and from the bus stop in front of the National Library one hour before the concert.