Carnegie Hall Presents Omar Faruk Tekbilek in Zankel Hall

On Saturday, April 14 at 8:30 p.m., vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Omar Faruk Tekbilek, brings his brilliant interpretations of Sufi, folk, and contemporary Turkish and Middle Eastern music to Zankel Hall. The performance comes on the heels of Tekbilek's first studio album in over five years, Love Is My Religion. For this special program, he is joined by renowned artists Brian Keane (guitar), Ara Dinkjian (oud), and other highly regarded world musicians.

About the Artist
A virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and one of the world's foremost exponents of Turkish and Middle Eastern music, Omar Faruk Tekbilekwas born into a musical family in the southern Turkish city of Adana. A musical prodigy, he began performing professionally at the age of 12. In 1967, upon turning 16, he moved to Istanbul where he spent the following decade as an in-demand session musician, performing with leading Turkish musicians of the day. In Istanbul, he explored various Arab, Turkish and Western styles and was deeply inspired by the Mevlevi Dervishes, the ancient Sufi order of Turkey. He came to the US in 1976, and in 1986 met Brian Keane, with whom he produced six recordings that launched him into the world music scene.

Tekbilek has collaborated with many musicians of international repute, including Karl Berger, ex-Cream rock drummer Ginger Baker, Youssou N'Dour, Ofra Haza, Yasmin Levy, Simon Shaheen, Glen Velez, Bill Laswell, Trilok Gurtu, Omar Sosa, Enrique Morente, Kodo, Tomatito, and Jai Uttal. He has contributed to numerous film and TV scores and to many recordings, including world sacred music albums, and he has toured extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and North and South America. He is currently recording for Alif Records, published by The Royalty Network, Inc. His new album, Love Is My Religion, expands his Mediterranean sound beyond political, religious, and geographic boundaries. Here he applies his unity-in-diversity approach to a collection of songs colored with Middle Eastern flavors with distinct traces of folk, traditional Sufi, flamenco and contemporary elements.

Program Information
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 8:30 p.m.
Zankel Hall
OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK, Ney, Vocals, Baglama, Zurna, and Percussion
Hasan Isakkut, Kanun and Violin
Itamar Erez, Acoustic Guitar and Piano
River Guerguerian, Drums and Percussion
Murat Tekbilek, Percussion

with Special Guests
Brian Keane, Guitar
Ara Dinkjian, Oud

Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Robert Browning Associates LLC.

Bank of America is the Proud Season Sponsor of Carnegie Hall.

Ticket Information
Tickets, priced at $38 and $48, are available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office, 154 West 57th Street, or can be charged to major credit cards by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800 or by visiting the Carnegie Hall website, carnegiehall.org.

For more information on discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts. Artists, programs, and prices are subject to change.

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