Font Resize
Istanbul, Turkey, will be celebrated as a European Capital of Culture in 2010 with year-long special events, renovations of major landmarks, the opening of new museums and exhibitions, and performances by artists from around the world.
The historic, cosmopolitan city is at the crossroads of East and West and has been the hub of global commerce and trade for millennia as well as the cradle of the three great monotheistic religions -- Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been one of the intellectual, cultural and political centers of the world for generations.
Featured attractions of Istanbul 2010 will include Ricardo Muti and the Vienna Philharmonic; a new project by Peter Sellars; an international ballet competition; the European Universities Theater Festival, and a youth festival.
Major works commissioned for the occasion include "The 29th Parallel," a piece on the use of the oud, a stringed instrument, across the Middle East; Freedom of Prometheus, a play from Greek director Theodoros Terzopoulos; and "10 Istanbul," a feature-length movie in 10 parts, each created by a noted foreign director. The movie will launch the 2010 Istanbul Film Festival.
In preparation for the event, the city has also made major renovations to landmark attractions and opened new museums. That includes refurbishing the Ataturk Culture Center and opening the Maslak Cultural Center as a new venue for performing arts; initiating a Frank Gehry-designed opera
For information on specific events, visit www.istanbul2010.org or www.goturkey.com.
