Dördüncü Sisters are with Presidential Symphony Orchestra after Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra

Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü sisters were among the soloists of Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra while performing “Youth Concerts” last week. Two sisters, performed the “Animal Carnival” from Saint Sacos. Today, Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü sisters will perform in Ankara with the accompaniment of Presidential Symphony Orchestra. The sisters who are going to perform compositions from Bartok, Debussy, Stravinsky and Ravel today; will be in USA, Italy, France, England and Japan in the coming months to give a number of concerts. We will have a chance to listen to those artists at International Istanbul Festival next summer. Now, we would like to present Filiz Ali’s comments about their last concert. and Ahu Antmen’s interview done with the two artists,
Ahu Antmen

A mother, when her first baby girl was born, wants to grow her up as a pretty girl. She was always thinking about how a girl ,who is living Atatürk’s principles , should be like and she decides: This woman can not be far away from art. Her daughter first begins to take ballet, and then piano courses. Her second daughter who was born a couple of years later, has also started playing piano after a short while. Today, these two sisters are two successful pianists, Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü, who are representing Turkey all around the world.

The pianist couple, who has started the concert season with Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra in Turkey, have been attended to Geneva Conservatory for specialization, after they have finished Ankara State Conservatory. After completing, Prof. H.Datyner’s virtuose class with a degree, the two artists took their capacity certificates and started to work as academicians at the same university. They are still performing this job.

Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü sisters, who have performed various compositions in many concerts and recitals, have came to Turkey within their Germany tour. . The sisters who are going to perform compositions from Bartok, Debussy, Stravinsky and Ravel today; will be in USA, Italy, France, England and Japan in the coming months to give a number of concerts.

Two sisters were grown up by listening to Mozart and Brahms at home. This might be the reason of their being a part of this music world today. Dördüncü sisters mention that they could never deny the effect of this music culture coming from their family, on their success but they also say that this effect would not have been enough if they had not worked this much.

Ufuk Dördüncü says “In fact we do not have a free time for even 5 minutes” and gives a sample profile of their lives in Geneva which can not be separated from each other: “Since we give lessons in Geneva Conservatory on some days, our performances fall somehow on those days. But, we always work with Bahar every evening after classes and at weekends. Of course, we continue working by ourselves during this time, too. At the same time, we have some common studies with some other music groups. The day starts for us at 8 am in the morning and ends up at 11 pm or even later in the evening. Sometimes without any breaks…”

It is impossible to think Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü apart from each other. They are always together both on the piano and apart from the music, although they do not have a life apart from music! They look like each other, especially their hands…The design of their hair, their way of speaking, mimics and even their glasses! They say that the idea of being a couple on the piano has just arisen from their being sisters. Working together at younger ages might have also caused this decision.

“We were always making trials during our ‘four hands’ studies. Later on we decided to continue this togetherness on two pianos. As everybody knows, there are too many pianists all around the world playing alone. We always had good criticisms about our couple work. We do not want to perform alone from now on. Playing together is a style and we want to do it perfectly”.

Dördüncü Sisters are very sensible to Brahms since their childhood. In fact, any of them likes to distinguish among musicians, especially during performing. But, Ufuk Dördüncü says that there are a small number of compositions written for two pianos. Schubert wrote a few for four hands. This number increases after Ravel and 20th century compositions start. We prefer French compositors and prefer the ones close to our times.

Although two sisters resemble each other very much and behave like “one” when they are talking, they, sometimes contradict each other. For example, while choosing what to play before the concerts. Bahar Dördüncü says that: “ You should respect each other even if you are sisters and very close to each other. When there is respect the rest comes after.”
Filiz Ali

We met the new abilities of the young generation during the traditional Friday – Saturday Symphonic Concerts.

While we were complaining about arabesque culture, degeneration and being unamusing, tasteless in terms of being populists; we realized that some people worked hard and created a wonderful piece of art, that human ability and labor could have reached at most point.

Yusuf Güler Aksöz led their concerts, on 4th and 5th of January at Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. The program started with Corelli’s Three Palaces Dance, Sarabande, Olgue and Badinerle that were adapted to Stringy Musical Instruments Orchestra by Eltore Pinelli. The interpretation of these precious, sparkling dances were sparkling too. Congratulations…

Afterwards, Ersun Kocaoglu who was a young artist , 22 years of age like Cihat Aşkın, performed Op.64 Mi Minor Violin Concerto from Mendelssohn. Ersun was born in İzmir in 1968. First, he studied violin with Nazan Alapınar at İzmir Conservatory. Then he won the entrance exam of Bilkent University, Faculty of Music and Arts, and continued his studies with Leda Cenaz. He graduated from the university in 1989 with a honor degree and won the gold prizes for violin and the best Turkish Piece Performer on the National Music Contest which was organized by Mimar Sinan University, State Conservatory, just at the same year.

Ersun Kocaoğlu, who is continuing his studies at Bilkent University with Suna Kan, had interpreted some of the pieces due to himself by addition of some notes and thus disturbing his parallelism with the orchestra somehow. This might be because of his excitement. But at andante, he went beyond his excitement, get used to the stage and could present his qualifications perfectly. At the final part, he was even more relaxed revealing his artistic agility and control over violin.

Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü sisters were the other artists at the first Youth Performance of the year. Dördüncü Sisters respectively started their music education at very young ages with the support of their families. Dördüncü Sisters who have started musical life after Ankara State Conservatory and Geneva Conservatory, performed “Animal Carnival” from Saint-Saens.

Being sisters and working together for so many years they could communicate very well and performed perfectly.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK THEM SEPERATELY – It is not possible to think Ufuk and Bahar Dördüncü apart from each other. They look like each other, especially their hands…The design of their hair, their way of speaking, mimics and even their glasses!