The İzmir State Symphony Orchestra (, İZDSO) is a state-sponsored symphony orchestra based in İzmir, Turkey. It operates under the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Turkey).
History
The orchestra was officially established in 1975 at the proposal of Mehmet Özel, then General Director of Fine Arts, and with the approval of Culture Minister Nermin Neftçi. It was founded under the leadership of conductor Hikmet Şimşek, with violinist Tuncer Olcay appointed as its founding director.
Tours and international appearances
The orchestra has represented Turkey in international concerts and festivals in countries including South Korea, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan. On 26 October 2024, İZDSO performed at Bulgaria Hall in Sofia under the direction of Gürer Aykal, with pianist Gökhan Aybulus as soloist. The concert was organised with the support of the Turkish Embassy in Sofia and the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, and included works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Ulvi Cemal Erkin. Turkish media described the Sofia performance as the orchestra's first concert in Bulgaria.
Collaborations with conductors and soloists
The orchestra has worked with Turkish and international conductors including Hikmet Şimşek, Cemal Reşit Rey, Gürer Aykal, Rengim Gökmen, Erol Erdinç, Cem Mansur, Howard Griffiths, Antonio Pirolli, Alexander Vedernikov, Gilbert Varga, Alun Francis, Alexander Rahbari, Emil Tabakov, Alessandro Cedrone, Ari Rasilainen, Christoph-Mathias Mueller, Nayden Todorov, Michal Nesterowicz, Nil Venditti, Holly Choe, Jacek Kaspszyk and Ruth Reinhardt. Gürer Aykal with Poyraz Baltacıgil in a Republic Day programme; Ion Marin in a 2025 concert programme of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky; Albrecht Mayer conducting with pianist Fabian Müller in Beethoven; and Tulio Varas with double bassist Xavier Foley in a 2025 concert programme including Bottesini and Schubert.
Venue
The orchestra's principal performance venue is the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Arts Center in İzmir. The centre, operated by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, contains concert halls and cultural spaces and is named after composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun, one of the leading figures of twentieth-century Turkish classical music.