‘Unforgettable’ songs at Turkish concert

Turkish music lovers descended on Bromley on Sunday night for what was billed as an “unforgettable” night of music. The London Turkish Music Choir, known by its Turkish initials LTMK, staged a concert to mark its 10th year of existence and performed countless classics to the delight of the audience.

The event was attended by the Turkish Embassy attaché to London, Orçun Başaran and his wife Nazmiye; as well as the Turkish Cypriot education attaché Hasan Kortay, Çetin Ramadan from the Council of Turkish Cypriot Associations and non-governmental organisation leaders, Turkish school directors and many fans of Turkish classical music. The event began with a moment of silence, which was immediately followed by the Turkish national anthem. Then choir director İnci Güryel gave a short speech in which she underlined the importance of Turkish culture.

She said: “We have worked hard until today to promote Turkish classical music among the Turkish community in London and to allow younger generations away from their homelands to enjoy the performance. We will continue with this mission.” The concert was presented by the opera artist Burak Gülşen, whose rendition of the traditional Çanakkale folksong, sung to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli naval war, was received with a standing ovation.