Fazil Say Turkish pianist and composer. Date of Birth: 14.01.1970 Country: Turkey

Biography of Fazil Say

Fazil Say (Turkish: Fazıl Say) is a Turkish pianist and composer, born on January 14, 1970, in Ankara. He studied at the Ankara Conservatory under the guidance of Mithat Fenmen. Later, he continued his studies in Düsseldorf and Berlin from 1991 to 1995. Say gained attention from German specialists even during his time in Turkey. In 1987, his composition "Black Hymns" (Turkish: Siyah İlahiler) was performed in Berlin as part of the city's 750th anniversary celebration.

Throughout his career, Fazil Say has received the highest recognition for his compositions. His notable works include the Second Piano Concerto with Orchestra titled "Silk Road" (Turkish: İpekyolu; 1994), "Four Dances for Nasreddin Hodja" for solo piano (1991), and the oratorio "Nazım" based on the poetry of Nazım Hikmet (2001). Many of Say's compositions combine academic tradition with elements of jazz and Turkish folk music. For example, he wrote a jazz variation on Mozart's "Turkish Rondo," and in 2006, his ballet "Patar" premiered in Vienna, based on Mozart's piano sonata KV 331, featuring soprano, piano, and Turkish folk instruments.

Aside from his own compositions, Fazil Say's repertoire as a pianist includes important works by Bach and Mozart. He often combines these classical pieces with his own compositions in concert programs. In a unique gesture, Say recorded his own arrangement of Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" for two pianos, performing both parts himself.

Fazil Say has frequently performed as a duo with violinist Maxim Vengerov. In 2004, their concert took place in Moscow. His solo concert in Moscow in 2006 received high praise from Russian critics, who described Say's performance as transcendent and expressing an immense love for the music he played.

Overall, Fazil Say has established himself as a highly respected Turkish pianist and composer, known for his unique artistic approach and the fusion of different musical genres in his works.