The Presidential Symphony orchestra of the Republic of Turkey

Conductor: Cem Mansur

Presidential Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest orchestra's in the world that has been able to operate without any interruptions. Polyphonic music has entered our country starting with 1826 in Sultan Mahmud the Second's era with westernizing movements and had become institutional in short time. After this fundamental step Guissepe Donizetti was invited to Turkey from the imperial palace of Austria-Hungary to lead the orchestra. Until Sultan Vahdeddin's era the name of the orchestra was "Mizika-i Humayun"(Royal Band) and it was merely performing in the palace. This institution of art was transferred to Ankara with the order of Great Ataturk and has been reorganized to elevate the cultural and artistic level of the people. Our orchestra which is the first institute of the republic and which was honored by taking the great title of Ataturk's position has applied the polyphonic music created by his directives to an honorable level. With this understanding and considering the importance of culturein development of nations a Music Teachers School was founded in 1924 which was united with our orchestra. After this education which was conducted with the scarce means of that era, the talented young students were sent to Europe for their education. These youngsters have completed their education in 1934 and returned to Turkey to found Contemporary Turkish Composing School (Turkish Fives Adnan Saygun, Cemal Reşit Rey, Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Hasan FeritAlnar,and Necil Kazim Akses). Music Teachers School was the basis of the Conservatory which was founded in 1936 and our orchestra has supported this conservatory with their teaching staff. The main source of Istanbul Izmir State Symphony Orchestras and many similar institution inTurkey is this Music Teachers School. Turkish contemporary composing school which was affected from folk music on one side and by the most progressive trends on the other side has been gave its fruits this way.
In 1934 Ahmet Adnan Saygun was appointed as head of the orchestra. At 1935'with composer Paul Hindemith who was appointed to make the program of international polyphonic music education in a country famous German Conductor was appointed as conductor of our orchestra. The valuable orchestra pedagogue Praetorius has elevated the orchestra to international llevels in technical sense. After the death of Praetorius the orchestra was conducted for many years famous conductors like Ferit Anlar and G.E. Lessing. Especially Lessing has conducted many premiers of Contemporary Turkish Composers works which are a symbol of internationalism of our nationality, have put them in the reparatory of our orchestra, have conducted these works in the country and abroad, recorded them and made them known. The Orchestra was conducted by many big names like Louis Fremaux, Lukas Foss, Walters Susskind, Jiri Belohlavek, Aaron Copland, Jean Perisson, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Karsten Andersen, Bruno Aprea, Massimo Pradella, Tadeusz Strugala, Cansug Kahidze, Gilbert Varga , Chiristian Jarvi, Michel Tabacnik, Alexander Rahbari. Also The orchestra was played to getter with very big names like: Andre Navara, Yehudi Menuhin, Joaquin Rodrigo, Arto Noras, Alberich Mayer, Jean Pıerre Rampal, Igor Oistrakh, Marin Gerass, Raphael Walfisch, Hagai Shaham, Truls Mork, Viktor Pkayzen, Julian Rachlin, Paul Tortelier, Pierre Fournier,Valeri Klimov,Gregoria Sokolov, Peter Katin, Gary Karr, Stefan Ruha, Robert Cohen, Janos Starker, Yuri Bashmet, Valeri Oistrakh, Vadim Repin, Andor Foldes, Alexander Markov, Vaclav Hudecek, Karl Leister, Lothar Koch, Alirio Diaz, Carol Byers.
After 1957 when our establishment law was published Presidential Symphony Orchestra has become known in international podium as well and has given many concerts for radio, TV, youth, for public, in schools and for children in Ankara, and has pioneered to promote polyphonic music in all parts of Turkey. Between 1957-86 Hikmet Şimşek was appointed as assistant Conductor, where he gave many valuable services. Mr. Gurer Aykal has been appointed as assistant Conductor and has been appointed as 1. Chief of the orchestra at 1988 according to the clauses of 6940 numbered law.
Since 1957, when our establishment law was published. Presidential Symphony Orchestra has performed more than 1000 radio TV, youth and children and school concerts and gave more than 400 pilot region concerts all over the country from Edirne to Hakkari. In addition in concerts performed in Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Rumania, Yugoslavia, Soviet Union, Italy, France, Switzerland, Iran Iraq, Lebanon, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Spain, Poland, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, South Korea, Japan, USA and England has made important additions to Ataturk’s aim of representing Contemporary Turkish Music to the world, and has earned many positive criteria from world's well known cultural centers.