The city is full of brand-new art events in the new season! From theater to exhibitions, concerts to stage shows, here are June events in Istanbul.
THEATERS
“Hamiyet Bir Peyk Muzikali”, Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater
Hamiyet is a woman living in a working-class neighborhood with her two children and husband and can only endure her poor life by taking refuge in a completely different world of imagination. Hamiyet, an important and valuable person in that world, is the songwriter of a music group and the apple of her eye. In those moments, she sings and dances freely, but most importantly, she never feels lonely. After the betrayals and disappointments, she experiences and witnesses in her real life, she loses touch with reality and eventually loses both her home and her dream friends. In contrast to all this, Hamiyet, who is memorialized by a boy who refuses to forget her, continues to live forever in Peyk songs.
Written by Deniz Madanoğlu and directed by Işıl Kasapoğlu, the play features Aslı İnandık, Bilgesu Kural and Cansu Bahadır. On June 6, book your ticket for the event that will take place at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater.
“Meçhul Paşa”, Trump Sahne
In Meşhul Paşa, where you will find yourself in a festive middle play, you will accompany the fairytale diary of the legendary humor newspaper Markopaşa. The story of Markopaşa, the country’s first political humor newspaper published by Aziz Nesin, Rıfat Ilgaz, Sabahattin Ali and cartoonist Mustafa Mim Uykusuz, the greatest writers of the period, is told. The play, which brings about emotional transitions, will meet its audience at Trump Stage on June 11 at 20.30.
“Eğlenceli Cinayetler Kumpanyası – Metres – 90’lar” Dada Salon Kabarett
Here is a play that will excite the lovers of interactive detective plays; Eğlenceli Cinayetler Kumpanyası‘s highly anticipated play, Metres – 90’lar inviting you to a dizzying night at the end of the 1990s, the play draws its audience in. In the middle of a very special night in the years, you are enchanted by the music of the period and unforgettable dance moves in a nightclub. In this nightclub, two couples with a common past meet and things get complicated as old memories are opened. But a hitman who is after one of them is also in the same venue. But who is he after? It is up to the audience to find the killer on a night when everyone lies and deceives each other.
Okan Bayülgen is in the director’s chair of the play where laughter and tension are experienced together, while the cast includes names such as Barış Kolik, Didem Sökmen, Emre Koç. Those who do not want to miss this colorful night can reserve their seats at Dada Salon Kabarett on June 27.
EXHIBITIONS
“Öyleyse En Başa Dönelim”, Salt Galata
Salt Galata welcomes the new season with Itziar Barrio’s exhibition Öyleyse En Başa Dönelim. Focusing on how scientific developments transform our perceptions of our existence in the world, Barrio combines the views of experts in fields such as astrophysics, robotics engineering and anthropology with fictional narratives. In doing so, he examines the interplay of objective knowledge production with social structures and cultural values. The exhibition is multilayered, serving as an exploratory space for the material world, scientific research and the sensory dimensions of experience. The exhibition, which questions social realities that are constantly under construction by bringing up the complex relationships between human, non-human and machine, can be visited at Salt Galata until September 29.
“Ters Yüz Pera”, Pera Museum
Pera Museum brings together 20 artists, architects and researchers from Tehran, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Berlin, Weimar and other martyrs of Germany in the exhibition Ters Yüz Pera! The works focus on alternative values and make evaluations towards this. The exhibition is curated by Prof. Mona Mahall and Yelta Km from Bauhaus University and Prof. Aslı Serbest from Bremen University of the Arts. The exhibition, which consists of three different sections titled “Küreseller”, “Basamaklar” and “Spekülasyonlar”, brings a different perspective to the art world. It aims to create experiences in the transformation of our lives, aesthetic practices and knowledge. Ters Yüz Pera exhibition is waiting for its visitors on the 4th and 5th floors of the museum until August 18th.
CONCERT
“Andrea Bocelli 30th Anniversary Concert”, BJK Tüpraş Stadium
Andrea Bocelli, the world’s most important tenor, will meet his fans in Istanbul on June 8, as part of his 30th anniversary concert tour. Bocelli, who has performed on many special occasions that are important for the whole world, will perform the most famous Italian and international operas and classical arias in this concert, as well as special songs from his albums, each of which has achieved great success. Andrea Bocelli, known as the symbol of the Italian vocal tradition, breaks attendance records with his concerts attended by tens of thousands of people.
“Mor ve Ötesi Symphonic”, Maximum Uniq Open Air
The countdown for the Mor ve Ötesi Symphonic concert has begun! The symphonic concert, accompanied by the Eurasia Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Conductor Orçun Orçunsel and the MAGMA Philharmonic Choir under the direction of Conductor Masis Aram Gözbek, will take place on June 9 at Maxiumum Uniq Open Air. In the concert, which is already a candidate to be one of the most unforgettable concerts of the summer of 2024, Mor ve Ötesi’s most beloved songs will be performed in symphonic arrangements. Get ready to listen to songs such as “Daha Mutlu Olamamam”, “Bir Derdim Var”, “Cambaz”, “Oyunbozan” and “Deli” and many more, which have a very important place in the band’s history.
“Buena Vista All Stars”, Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater
The band members of Buena Vista Social Club, one of the legendary bands of the music world, are back in Istanbul after a hiatus of 8 years as Buena Vista All Stars! Living members of Buena Vista Social Club Barbarito Torres, Demetrio Munz will share the same stage with Ibrahim Ferrer Jr. the son of Ibrahim Ferrer, the unforgettable lead singer of Buena Vista Social Club. Also, this time, the Havana-based pianist Dayramir González and the magical voices of Elizabeth Meza and Liz Ferrer are the main protagonists of this adventure. Preparing to offer much more than a musical performance, the group takes you on a journey to different eras in different cultures. The concert, which is a candidate to enter your unforgettable list, will take place on June 21 at Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theater. Make a note in your agenda for this night that will turn into a Latin feast.
Galataport Jazz Festival, Galataport Istanbul
Galataport Jazz Festival, which is preparing to keep the spirit of New Orleans alive in the heart of the Bosphorus, will take place at Galataport Istanbul on June 8-9. The event, which is free and open to all, will feature university student bands as well as renowned jazz drummer Ferit Odman. This colorful street feast will be crowned with soul food delicacies.
STAGE SHOW
“Viva Flamenco!”, CKM Grand Hall
How about a dose of Spanish fever? If yes, you are invited to Kadıköy Municipality Flamenco Workshop’s year-end show! In this journey full of flamenco, the dance of sadness, joy and love that has spread from Southern Spain to the world, a show full of important composers such as Manuel de Falla and Lorca, Spanish classics and dances from different regions of Andalusia awaits you. Tickets for the event, which will take place on Wednesday, June 5 at 20.00, can be bought from mobilet.com.
