In the lead up to her appearance at The 7th International North Cyprus Music festival this Friday, Lincguide presents a special interview with one of the worlds most talented pianists Gulsin Onay.
Gulsin was a child prodigy and has performed all over the world.  She has the title of  ‘State Artist’ in her native Turkey and will be appearing this Friday (25th September) at the 7th International North Cyprus Music festival in Bellapais. I started by asking here more about the festival.

There is a special atmosphere at the music festival in Bellapais, have you played in Northern Cyprus before? “I have played at the Bellapais Music Festival several times and it definitely is among my special places. In fact, I once experienced one of those rare musical moments here. I had Mendelssohn’s Variations Serieuses in my programme. The mystical atmosphere and the perfect acoustics were in such perfect harmony and so inspiring that a new window opened up for me. I looked into the work with a totally new insight and it wore quite another character. Since then, I am satisfied with my interpretation of Variations Serieuses and I enjoy it thoroughly.”

Do you have a particular concert that stands out to you as a highlight in your career? “There are many highlights, including the one in Bellapais. Some concerts stand out for their grandeur, like the one with the Vienna Symphony at the Konzerthaus: It was a marvellous orchestra, a very impressive hall… I also immensely enjoy playing with Vladimir Ashkenazy, who is an incredible musician and a wonderful conductor. Our concerts were with different orchestras and at different venues each time, but playing with him is always an enriching experience. Then, there are the surprises, which turn out to be highlights when you least expect it. I had played Adnan Saygun with a Japanese conductor, Tatsuya Shimono in France and he proved to be one of the musicians who understood Saygun the best.”

Who are your favourite musicians? Do you like other types of music or modern artists? “I generally like the musicians who go beyond a sparkling show and aim to communicate the music. Richter was one, and Pollini, Argerich… I am aware that I am listing the old school of musicians but I guess this era of technology and speed makes it harder for both the audiences and the musicians to persevere in exploring the nuances and the depths. Yet, I have favourites amongst the new generation as well: Ilya Itin from Russia, Aleksandar Madzar from Serbia, Francesco Libetta from Italy just to name a few; and of course, Fazil Say.
I come across other types of music all the time: on the radio while I’m driving or at a restaurant. I listen to them with interest but I must confess that I cannot get to like them much.”

You have fantastic technical ability, but of all the composers whose music you play, whose music would you say is the most challenging? “Thank you very much for the compliment! I think technique is – or should be – a means to faithfully convey the music and its connotations as you feel them; to bring out all the richness in the tones and colours. I find it most challenging when I cannot establish empathy towards the work. It happened with the Brahms’ 2nd Piano Concerto, which undoubtedly is a masterpiece. Still I could not make terms with it, so even though my interpretations won quite a lot of acclaim I was not content. Eventually, I took it out of my repertoire.”

You started to play at a very early age. Your son Erkin is also a very talented violinist, did you encourage him to play when he was young too? “Erkin is concertmaster at the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. Now he is also into recording and sound systems; he proved his talent in that, too! My mother and I encouraged Erkin to play the piano after us when he was very young but he chose to follow in the footsteps of my father and took the violin.”

You are a Goodwill Ambassador for the Turkish national committee of UNICEF. What does your job involve?
“I have been the Goodwill Ambassador of UNICEF since 2003. It is more of an honorary title than a job. The Turkish National Committee appointed me in recognition of my contributions in promoting charitable causes. I had been giving charity concerts around the world before being a Goodwill Ambassador as well and now I am one, my efforts are usually to benefit UNICEF. In 2005, I gave a recital in California for the Tsunami victims. In 2006, I played with the Bilkent Symphony for the Pakistani earthquake survivors and also gave a recital to benefit the children in Lebanon. To cut a long story short, I give concerts to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF projects.”

If you weren’t a pianist what would do you think you would be doing instead? “Well, I did not choose piano as a profession; I rather found my entire life shaped by it since I was three years old. So I never knew what else I could do; I never had to consider any options. As a child, I fancied being a mathematician like my grandfather but probably that had more to do with all the brilliant stories I had heard about him – being the first Turkish mathematician to meet with Einstein, and all – than my skills in maths. While studying at the Paris Conservatoire, I joined an amateur drama group and acted in some leading parts. After our success, things started getting professional so I had to give it up and only then my friends learnt that I was a pianist; they were so surprised! And it was then I discovered another talent, another passion in me: theatre. Maybe I could have been an actress if I were not a pianist.”

Finally, what advice would you give to someone who was learning to play the piano? “With or without professional objectives, my primary advice would be to appreciate and cherish the value of making music. Music frees your soul and your dreams; it communicates your feelings and thoughts, which words would fail. At every step of the journey, playing the piano should be taken seriously but never dismissing the pleasure in it.”

Here is a video of Gulsin playing the conclusion of final movement Rachmaninov Concerto number 3 with the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra (Vladimir Ashkenazy is conducting) … enjoy!

Lincguide would like to thank Gulsin for sparing her valuable time to answer our questions.
If you haven’t already booked a ticket for her performance on Fri, you might be lucky if you are quick. You can contact the festival on +90-542-8522922 or e-mail: info@musicfestival.org Tickets are priced 20tl for all shows.