On the evening of April 2, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra performed the Çanakkale 1915 Oratorio under an enthusiastic atmosphere. The piece was composed by one of the brightest names of the contemporary Azerbaijani music, Vasıf Adıgüzel (Baku, 1935-2006) on the occasion of 75^th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. The world premiere of the Oratorio was performed on October 16, 1998, in Ankara by the Presidential Symphony Orchestra.

In these days as we commemorate the centenary of Gallipoli victory with enthusiasm as well as grief, this meaningful piece composed by an Azerbaijani Turk with corresponding emotions was conducted by Yalçın Adıgüzel, the composer’s son and a member of the family’s third generation, which added further to the significance of the event.

The Republic of Turkey and Turkish people have a number of to commemorate and celebrate the year 2015. The Gallipoli battles and the victory of Gallipoli is the first and foremost. This battle was also an important turning point in the path of the young lieutenant colonel Mustafa Kemal, a commander at Gallipoli, to become the great leader Atatürk. Another importance of 2015 is Turkey’s presidency of the G-20 consisting of 20 major economies of the world, and the G-20 Summit which will be hosted in Antalya with the participation of the heads of government and/or state. Having been exhausted in battles, having lost all its young population and its elites, having undertaken the debts of the Ottoman Empire following its dissolution and having economically started from a disadvantageous position, from scratch, the Republics’ position today deserves all kinds of praise. All defamations and fabrications to slow down and obstruct Turkey and distort its positive energy will not hinder Turkey’s development, the future of the Republic of Turkey will continue to be brighter.

Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM) congratulates the Presidential Symphony Orchestra for their timely and successful performance of the 1915 Gallipoli Oratorio and remembers Vasıf Adıgüzel with respect.