“Songs are dreams made of sounds.
Where no song is sung, silence and distance grow,
and people become strangers to one another...
When human beings begin to change, to transcend themselves and draw closer to others,
it is because they have begun to understand and to listen.
Music is a bridge between people – tangible and enchanting.”
— Ilias Kutulas (1997)

For thousands of years, Anatolia has stood as a symbol of peaceful coexistence among diverse cultures, faiths, and languages. The folk songs of this land are more than melodies – they are resonant echoes of a shared history, a language of emotion, dreams, and longing.

As the great artist Ruhi Su once said: “Folk songs are poetry, musical performance, communication, and an unwritten law of morality and justice.”

Each Anatolian folk song carries a message – social, political, or economic. Epic tales of heroes, songs of freedom and love, laments, satires, ritual dances, and nature-inspired verses form the vast treasury of this tradition. They are living musical documents that tell the story of human life – of thought, emotion, dignity, and existence itself.

For many years, Hasan Yükselir has devoted himself to reinterpreting and revitalizing these musical treasures for the modern world.
With his distinctive voice, profound emotional expression, and artistic vision, he brings together the soul of Anatolian folk music and the rich sound of the symphony orchestra. Through collaborations with renowned orchestras such as the
Berlin Symphony Orchestra,
Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Ankara,

...
and many other European and international ensembles, Hasan Yükselir builds bridges between cultures – between East and West, tradition and modernity, emotion and intellect.

In his performances, the ancient roots of Anatolian music merge with classical and Western orchestral forms, creating a powerful universal soundscape.
With original arrangements, expressive vocal artistry, and contemporary orchestration, Hasan Yükselir brings the songs of Anatolia to life in symphonic form – as a dialogue of cultures and a call for mutual understanding and peace.

🎥 Concert video: Dostum – Hasan & Dijle Yükselir, Live in Istanbul