The Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra (), also known as BIPO, is a Turkish symphony orchestra based in Istanbul. It was formed in 1999 from the earlier Borusan Chamber Orchestra and is supported by Borusan Holding through Borusan Sanat and the Borusan Kocabıyık Foundation.
History
The history of the orchestra begins with the Borusan Chamber Orchestra, one of Borusan Holding's early cultural initiatives. In 1999 the ensemble was expanded into a symphonic orchestra under the direction of Turkish conductor Gürer Aykal, who became its founding music director and later honorary conductor. The programme included music by Balakirev, Holst, Mozart, Handel, Respighi, Ulvi Cemal Erkin and the world premiere of Gabriel Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1, performed by violinist Daniel Hope.
Patrick Hahn was appointed principal guest conductor and artistic adviser from the 2021–2022 season. In September 2023, Borusan Sanat announced that Italian conductor Carlo Tenan would become artistic director and principal conductor of the orchestra, serving as artistic director from 1 October 2023 and taking up the principal-conductor role from the 2024–2025 season.
Tours and international appearances
BIPO has developed an international profile through appearances at major festivals and concert halls. In 2010 it appeared at the opening events of the Salzburg Festival, and in 2014 it made its BBC Proms debut in London.
In February 2016, the orchestra undertook a European tour from Vienna to Germany. The 2017 tour included concerts in Essen, Ljubljana, Vienna and Zurich, and featured Mark-Anthony Turnage's Shadow Walker, a concerto for two violins and orchestra commissioned by BIPO, the Essen Philharmonic and the Trans-Siberian Art Festival. Later in 2025, the orchestra appeared at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival with Fazıl Say under Tenan, including performances at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and the Deutsches Haus in Flensburg. Borusan Sanat described the Hamburg concert as the first performance by a Turkish orchestra at the Elbphilharmonie.
Guest artists and conductors
The orchestra has collaborated with Turkish and international conductors and soloists in Istanbul, on tour and in recordings. Conductors associated with the orchestra have included Gürer Aykal, Sascha Goetzel, Patrick Hahn, Carlo Tenan, Thomas Rösner, George Pehlivanian, Rengim Gökmen, Alexander Liebreich and Nayden Todorov.
Soloists and guest artists who have appeared with BIPO or recorded with the orchestra include Midori, Daniel Hope, Vadim Repin, Nemanja Radulović, Fazıl Say, Pablo Ferrández, Ksenija Sidorova, Valentina Lisitsa, Camille Thomas, Gökhan Aybulus, Pelin Halkacı Akın, Bülent Evcil, Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Gluzman, Dimitris Sgouros, Alexander Rudin, Suna Kan, İdil Biret, Ayşegül Sarıca, Ayla Erduran, Gülsin Onay, Anna Tomowa-Sintow, Olga Kern, Corey Cerovsek and Stanislav Ioudenitch.
Recordings
BIPO has recorded for labels including Onyx Classics, Deutsche Grammophon and Prospero. Its recordings include Respighi, Hindemith, Schmitt, conducted by Sascha Goetzel for Onyx; Music of the Machine Age, also with Goetzel; and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade.
In 2016 the orchestra appeared with accordionist Ksenija Sidorova on Carmen, released by Deutsche Grammophon. It later recorded Tchaikovsky repertory and the album Baïka with Nemanja Radulović for Deutsche Grammophon. Carlo Tenan was announced as artistic director from October 2023 and principal conductor from the 2024–2025 season.