The living legend of early and Baroque music Jordi Savall took the stage on September 24, 2015 at the Centre for Fine Arts Brussels (BOZAR) as part of Europalia Turkey, organized with the collaboration of Brussels Yunus Emre Enstitüsü and Romanian Cultural Institute Brussels.

The Spanish viol and gamba player and composer known for his mission to act as a spokesman for the nearly forgotten cultures by rediscovering hidden compositions from the 16^th-17^th century archives, Jordi Savall performed Dimitrie Cantemir’s Istanbul pieces and received a minutes-long standing ovation.

Savall’s compilation of the works of the Romanian composer and tamburi Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723), who lived in exile under the Ottoman Empire and made great contributions to Turkish classical music, were performed under the title “Istanbul” and revealed to Belgian music lovers the city’s cultural diversity hidden in Turkish, Sephardic, Armenian, and Ottoman notes.

The Catalan artist was accompanied by an ensemble of Turkish, Armenian, Greek, and Spanish artists, the Hespèrion XXI.

The concert in BOZAR’s Henry Le Boeuf Hall was attended by approximately 2000, predominantly Belgian guests.

Savall’s comment that “Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Spanish, and Catalan artists came together under the unifying harmony of music” received a big round of applause; and Savall and the ensemble was congratulated by the Cultural Heritage and Museums General Director Abdullah Kocapınar, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Advisor Dr. İbrahim Sarıtaş, Brussels Tourism Counsellor Murat Alıcıgüzel, and Brussels Yunus Emre Enstitüsü Director Rahmi Göktaş.