Michael Ellison - A Tryptich of Transcultural Operas (Hezarfen Ensemble)

Information

Composer: Michael Ellison

• Binboğalar Efsanesi
• Mevlâna (Say I am You)
• Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman)

Hezarfen Ensemble

Can Okan, Lucas Vis & Michael Rafferty, conductors

Date: 2026

Label: Métier

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In June 2026, Métier presents composer Michael Ellison’s groundbreaking operatic triptych: Mevlana, Deniz Küstü, and Binboğalar Efsanesi. Performed by the Hezarfen Ensemble, these transcultural works seamlessly integrate Turkish traditional instruments, vocal styles, and literature with Western contemporary music. Mevlana explores Rumi's mystical transformation, while Deniz Küstü addresses environmental and societal challenges in Istanbul. Binboğalar Efsanesi, the culmination of an eight-year European Research Council project, incorporates Anatolian folk traditions to depict the decline of nomadic life. Accompanied by digital video releases from the Istanbul Music Festival, this collection offers a deeply atmospheric, emotionally expansive reflection on global and cultural heritage.

Composer Michael Ellison crafts an unclassifiable musical idiom that integrates contemporary classical aesthetics with deep Turkish traditional influences. Informed by extensive field research supported by Fulbright and ARIT grants, his evocative and emotionally expansive compositions have earned accolades from institutions like Copland House, the Barlow Endowment, and the NEA. Ellison's major works include a BBC-commissioned concerto, his groundbreaking transcultural operas, and cross-cultural memorial pieces performed internationally at venues like Carnegie Hall. Having had works championed by premier global ensembles and quartets, the American composer has also served on the faculty of the University of Bristol since 2010.

Entering its eleventh season, the Istanbul-based Hezarfen Ensemble is internationally recognized for its energetic, vital performances of contemporary music. Signature interdisciplinary projects, such as Deniz Küstü and the ERC-supported Binboğalar Efsanesi, have profoundly transformed Turkey's musical landscape by seamlessly blending Western classical aesthetics with traditional Anatolian instruments. The ensemble's infectious energy has driven regular appearances at home venues like the Borusan Music House alongside extensive international touring. Frequently featured at prominent European festivals, including Berlin's Maerz Musik and the Acht Brücken Festival, the group made its UK debut in 2022, solidifying its reputation as a premier transcultural contemporary music pioneer.