Can you introduce yourself, and talk about your current musical role and responsibilities?
My name is Pelin Halkaci Akin, I am a violinist. I have been the concertmaster of Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra since 1999. Besides that role, I am Professor of Violin at MSGSU State Conservatory, Istanbul. In addition, I regularly perform as a soloist with different orchestras, making recitals in and out of Türkiye.
For those who haven’t heard it before, can you give a brief introduction to Franz Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony?
It is a very beautiful and magical work – one of my favourite works of the orchestral repertoire. Schubert’s Eighth Symphony has poetic themes, delicately woven like lace, and has an elegant melodic structure. Its themes are written in a way that it almost speaks or tells a story. While the perpetual movement continues in the lower register, almost depicting the flow and inevitable continuity of time, above, the solo instruments represent the characters telling or acting out the story, after the dark initial entrance of the basses. It clearly attracts and mesmerizes the listener – one cannot help but be impressed by Schubert’s genius.
Do you remember the first time you performed Schubert’s Unfinished? What impression did the work first make on you?
There are certain works that a musician listens to and loves throughout life and waits to play it. This symphony was on my shortlist, it was one of the works I was looking forward to playing. I had this chance in the first years of my career as a concertmaster and I remember myself being very happy, and enjoyed rehearsing and performing it.
What is it like to perform? Are there notable challenges in leading the orchestra in Schubert’s symphonic music?
To be honest, playing Schubert is never easy. The delicacy and the amazing grazioso character of his music compels the player to have maximum control on their instrument, their sound, and style. The plain structure of his melodies and musical textures are sometimes so delicate that they can easily be broken. Schubert should always be played with extreme care and respect to the wishes and priorities of the composer. But when the intended sensitivity is achieved, the result and the pleasure received are truly indescribable. As a concertmaster, I think it is most important to ensure that all members of the orchestra show the same sensitivity and respect, to use the (so to say) same language when interpreting Schubert’s works.
Is there a recording or a memory of a performance that is particularly special?
No, I don’t have a special memory of a performance, but there are many amazing recordings of most famous conductors and orchestras – my personal preference would be the recording of Leonard Bernstein with the Concertgebouw Orchestra. It matches well with my own expectations of this symphony as a musician: for me it is all about storytelling, more expressive and breathing… But as I mentioned before it is just my preference.
Do you have a favourite passage in the symphony?
My favourite passage in this symphony is the very moment the oboe and clarinet start the gorgeous first theme after the dark entrance of lower strings. It sounds so magical to me. And the Fugue in the second movement, it has so much character and it is very powerful. These two passages always move me deeply.
Do you have any thoughts about attempts to complete the symphony? Have you performed a completion?
It is not known exactly why Schubert did not complete his Eighth Symphony. I have read that there have been various attempts by others to complete it based on Schubert’s manuscripts, and that there are several different “completed” versions, but I have never played any of them. I have always played the two-movement version – the two movements that were scored completely by the composer.
The interesting thing about this work is that it was never played while the composer was alive, being first performed only in 1865 by Johann von Herbeck, decades after Schubert’s death in 1828. It was kept under wraps by Schubert’s friend Anselm Hüttenbrenner, who told no one about it. Hüttenbrenner’s reasons for keeping the symphony a secret, and Schubert never completing it, remain a mystery.
Why should one come to hear a performance of Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony?
First of all, one should come to hear the symphony in order to experience the beauty of Schubert’s music and to witness and admire his genius. Secondly, we, as members of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra always play from our hearts, and love sharing the emotion and the beauty of music with our audiences. Music is not something I feel one should experience at home alone, it must be public, and, in my opinion, it must be shared. We would love to share Schubert’s masterpiece with our beloved audience – we hope they come to the concert to join us.
Can you talk a little about the history of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra, who celebrate their 25th anniversary this year?
I am very proud of my orchestra – in 25 years all together we achieved so many things. We have become an example for all the orchestras in Türkiye. With amazing members and very professional administration and management team, BIPO has created an international level of performance not only for Istanbul but for all of Türkiye. We have toured all around Europe (Felsenreitschule, Wiener Konzerthaus, Graf Zeppelin Haus, Alte Oper, Meistersingerhalle Nürnberg, Philharmonie Essen, Cankarjev Dom, Wiener Musikverein, Tonhalle Maag Haal, Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Stuttgart, Het Concertgebouw, Eurogress Aachen, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées), to the UK (Royal Albert Hall), to Hong Kong (Cultural Center), and made CD recordings (9 albums), countless concerts, many world premieres, with top class soloists and conductors... I must say it had been special 25 years for all of us.
But among all the concerts that we’ve made, one is distinct from others for all of us. It was the concert at the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms in 2014. It was the most incredible audience ever, listening and sharing music with us. The interaction with the audience their enthusiasm impressed us all very much. For me, it was one of the most memorable concerts of all these 25 years.
Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra play Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony on tour through the UK from 5th–10th April, in Perth, Edinburgh, London, Guildford and Sheffield.
This article was sponsored by Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra.
