Two Must-See Events of Istanbul 2010

Enough praise...

After Erdogan's speech, the opening ceremony of European Capital of Culture 2010 was a disaster.

Does the government describe the Turkish culture as a cocktail of Tarkan, Kirac and Mor ve Otesi?

Isn't it too pop?

Meanwhile, I've finished reviewing the program.

I believe that there are just two activities that everyone MUST see:

The first one is Estonian composer Arvo Pärt's special piece for Istanbul, entitled "Adam’s Lament", which will be premiered on 7 June 2010. Last year, I had met Tõnu Kaljuste, the Estonian maestro who will also conduct Pärt's piece in Istanbul. Such a prestigious event wouldn't be possible without the title of European Capital of Culture. Hurriyet's jury of culture, too, voted the Pärt concert as the best event of the calendar.

The second must-see event is a dance and music production about the life of Kaptan-i Derya (Fleet Admiral of the Ottoman Navy) Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha and Mediterranean sailors of the 16th century. I'm impatient to watch the dancers of the Turkish State Opera and Ballet.

Some may argue that there are many more interesting events, including a concert by U2 and the opening of the Museum of Innocence, inspired by the eponymous novel by Nobel Prize-winning Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk. Simply, I don't believe that these are as cultural as they should be; but I would love to see them as well.