ISTANBUL (Public Radio of Armenia) — The Dresden Symphony Orchestra will present a program titled “Aghet,” dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, at the German Consulate General in Istanbul on November 13, the Turkish service of Deutsche Welle reports.
“Aghet” caused tension between Turkey and Germany last year, as the orchestra commemorated the Armenian Genocide centennial in Dresden on April 30, 2015. Turkey attempted to pressure it and the European Union to keep the term “genocide” out of a concert.
The concert was sponsored by European Union’s Creative Europe program. Turkey’s delegation to the European Union demanded the European Commission withdraw 200,000 euros ($224,500) in funding for the concert.
Earlier this month Turkey announced it was exiting the European Union’s Creative Europe Program. According to reports, the pullout was in response to a concert, supported by Creative Europe and performed in April by Germany’s Dresden Symphony Orchestra in commemoration of the Armenian genocide.
Conducted by Andrea Molino, the Dresden Symphony is joined by musicians from Turkey and Armenia as well as members of the No Borders Orchestra.
“Aghet” was initiated by Marc Sinan together with the orchestra from Dresden. Sinan’s Armenian grandmother lost her parents in the events following the deportations that began on April 24, 1915.
