First symphonic concert in Ankara
During the Ottoman Empire, the capital of Western music was İstanbul and its place of performance was the palace. The transformation of the military band “Mızıka-yı Hümayun,” created during the reign of Mahmud II, into a palace orchestra over time had introduced a very small segment of society to Western music. The orchestra began performing for the public outside of the palace for the first time in 1917. Organized weekly, the public concerts were given at the hall of Union Française in Tepebaşı.
The orchestra continued to exist as an institution affiliated with the sultan during the years of the War of Independence. Following the dissolution of the sultanate in 1922, it was affiliated with the caliphate and renamed Makam-ı Hilafet Muz?kas?. The abolition of the caliphate on March 3, 1924; however, led to new uncertainty for the future of the orchestra.
Immediately after these developments, the orchestra took stage on March 11, 1924 at a ball organized under the patronage of Latife Hanım in the National Theater building across from the National Assembly. The concert, during which Conductor Zeki Bey’s National Anthem was performed for the very first time, was highly applauded. This also constituted the first symphonic concert performed in the new capital of Turkey.
Makam-ı Hilafet Mızıkası moved to Ankara on April 27, 1924 and took on the name Riyaset-i Cumhur Musiki Heyeti (The Presidential Orchestra). With Zeki Bey as the conductor, the orchestra evolved into the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in the ensuing years and played a significant role in the development of Classical Western music in Turkey.
There is no doubt that Second President İsmet İnönü was the most faithful audience member of the orchestra. Never missing any of the orchestra’s concerts, İnönü had a permanent seat assigned to his name in the concert hall. Today, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra organizes special concerts in commemoration of İsmet İnönü.
