Served as a capital to the two great civilizations on a world scale, two great empires; a metropolis of two major religions at the point where two continents, Asia and Europe are connected, Istanbul has undergone through many political, cultural and social changes. These changes are reflected in the original music which was mainly composed of the court music, military music, ethnic music, religious music, and the Arab-themed music which came to the city with immigrants from Anatolia. All these music al currents will be presented to the audience in a chronological integrity and original sound within this project.

Head of the Musicology-Music History Department at America’s first Conservatory, world-famous New England Conservatory and; the founder and Chairman of the “Intercultural Institute” Prof. Dr. Robert Labaree regained the Middle Eastern harp called “Cheng” which Ottoman-Turkish music tradition has lost about 350 years ago. Prof. Labaree modified and improved the instrument by using “kanun” latches, thus it gets to fit to the current performance standards of Turkish music. Audience will get to chance to see the instrument “cheng” and enjoy the “cheng” performance by Labaree in this event.

For more you can read from Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency.

The exhibition “From Byzantium to Istanbul: A Harbor for Two Continents” opened with a ceremony participated by the Turkish President Abdullah Gul and the French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The exhibition is held by Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency in cooperation with Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts for the purpose of comprehensive promotion of Istanbul in abroad as the city will bear the title “European Capital of Culture” in 2010.

Following the opening ceremony the exhibition was visited by top rank protocol including State Minister and chief negotiator Egemen Bagis, State Minister Hayati Yazici, Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbas and Istanbul 2010 European Capital of Culture Agency Executive Chairman of Board Şekib Avdagiç. During the visit curator Nazan Ölçer introduced and informed about each and every artifact.

Great interest in the Eiffel tower illuminated red and white…
Illumination will last until 11 October and The Eiffel Tower was ever in the colors of the flag of a country only for once. This is a very fancy event demonstrating the depth of France-Turkey relations and proximity of the two countries.

As a part “Season of Turkey in France” events starting on 1st July to last for 9 months until 31 March 2010; The Eiffel Tower, trademark of Paris was lit up with the colors of Turkish flag in the evening of October 6. The first two floors measuring 115 meters of the tower is lit up red while the remaining 209 meters in top is shining white. Symbol of Paris the Eiffel Tower of 324 meters will be lit up with the colors of Turkish flag along 5 days from 20:00 till morning.

Photo by Niyazi Uğur Genca

The Archaeological Museum was founded by the famous painter, archaeologist and curator of the time, Osman Hamdi, and opened to the public on June 13, 1891 under the name Miize-i Humayun (the Imperial Museum). The museum, which was rear ranged and enlarged by the addition of a new wing to the building, was reopened to the public on its centannial. The gate of this majestic building designed by architect Valaury is monumental.

In the halls to the right of the entrance, examples of “Antique Age Sculpture” are exhibited. Unique examples of sculpture from the Archaic age until the end of Roman era are exhibited in the halls of “Antique Grave Stones and Reliefs”, “Treasures from Persian Reign in Anatolia”, “Kenan Erim Hall (Aphrodisias Relics)”, “Three Marble Cities in Anatolia” (Ephesus, Miletus, Aphrodisias), “Hellenistic Sculpture”, “Magnesia AD Meandrum and Tralles (Aydin) Statue Groups”, “Hellenistic and Hellenistic Influenced Roman Sculpture”, “Roman Art of Portrait Making”, “Roman Empire Sculpture”. The majority of these artifacts was discovered during the excavations of the ancient cities in Anatolia.

Photo by Niyazi Uğur Genca

Following the counters, where souvenirs and books are sold, on the left of the entrances, is the hall dedicated to Osman Hamdi, the founder of the museum. Right after this hall, treasures unearthed during the excavation of the Royal Cemetery in Sidon are exhibited. Excavation of the Cemetery was carried on by Osman Hamdi, himself.

The first of the three sarcophagi standing side by side belongs to Tabnit, the king of Sidon. A unique Lician sarcophagus and a Satrap sarcophagus are also found in this hall. Next comes the world famous Sar-cophagus of Alexander the Great and the Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women. Both of these were discovered during the excavation of the Royal Cemetery in Sidon and they date back to the 4lh century B.C..

Various architectural fragments are displayed in the annex building. In its ground level is the hall of “Antique Age Anatolian Architecture” and in the first storey is the hall of “Istanbul Through the Centuries”. On the second storey, small archaeological finds belonging to the Paleolithic age, Early, Middle and Late Bronze ages and the Frigian State age in Anatolia are displayed under the heading “Anatolia Through the Centuries and Troy”. A section of this hall is reserved for the artifacts found in Troy and the treasures discovered in the settlements I-IX are displayed in separate showcases.
On the third storey, under the heading of treasures discovered in Cyprus, Palestine and Syria are displayed in chronological order.