Prominent businessman Rahmi Koç, the honorary president of Koç Holding, was slated to perform with the Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic Orchestra as guest conductor at the ensemble”s annual special concert on Wednesday night.
The orchestra was to perform pieces from Antonio Vivaldi”s classic concerto "The Four Seasons" and two arias from the opera "Bajazet" under the baton of the revered businessman at the concert at İstanbul”s Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Center. Koç, who on Tuesday rehearsed with the orchestra and musical director Gürer Aykal, has donated 25,000 euros to the orchestra, covering the expenses of a scholarship the orchestra had previously granted young fagot player Burak Özdemir to receive a masters degree in fagot in Germany.
Wednesday”s concert was the second performance where a guest conductor directed the Borusan Philharmonic. The initiative was launched last year, featuring Borusan Holding Board Chairman Ahmet Kocabıyık as the orchestra”s first guest conductor. The orchestra will open the 2007-08 concert season on Oct. 3 with a performance at İstanbul”s Caddebostan Culture Center (CKM), featuring violinist James Ehnes as soloist
