There is a self within myself
A theatrical concert based on Rumi
Concerto Copenhagen
Aylin Sezer - Soprano
Hakan Uyrum - Turkish Ney
Emma Farnell-Watson - Dance and choreography
European tour 2025 - 2026
There is a self within myself,
merges the poetic works of the Sufi mystic Rumi from the 13th century with the rich sound of a baroque ensemble, traditional Turkish instruments, percussion and a soprano's voice. Additionally, a dance performance enhances the show by interpreting Rumi's profound words. The production delves into the themes of love, yearning, and the quest for spiritual enlightenment. The character of the music is distinctly lyrical, interspersed with highly virtuosic passages, and moves from echoes of traditional Ottoman music, complete silence, to a grand monumental sound world.
There is a quote from Rumi that could potentially flip most people's thinking:
"The wound is the place where the light can enter you."
A trauma or intense event is not something that holds you back, but rather an opportunity to move towards the light.
Based on this idea, the structure of the performance has been designed to evolve from darkness to light, in the music, in the chosen texts, and in the dance choreography.
Aylin Sezer
Soprano
Soprano Aylin Sezer has performed various roles such as Violetta, Nedda, Pamina, Micaëla, Tatiana, and Nele (in Jan van Gilse’s Thijl, which was nominated for Best Rediscovered Work in 2019 by the International Opera Awards) with various Dutch opera companies, including Dutch Touring Opera, Opera Zuid, and Opera Spanga. Aylin also had the pleasure of singing Pamina in Peter Brook's production of The Magic Flute during its world tour with Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord. In the summer of 2021, Aylin performed at the prestigious Prinsengrachtconcert in Amsterdam with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. During the 2014-2015 season, she was a member of the Young Ensemble of the Flemish Opera, where she sang roles such as Emma (Khovanshchina), Fünfte Magd, Despina, and Zerlina. Aylin has a Turkish father and a Dutch mother. She was born and raised in Istanbul, and she moved to the Netherlands for her conservatory studies. She received her bachelor's degree from the Royal Conservatory and her master's degree from the Dutch National Opera Academy with a distinction for "exceptional artistic quality".
Hakan Uyrum
Ney
Hakan Ronas Uyrum, born in Amsterdam, fell in love with the sound of the Ney at a very young age. He received Ney lessons in Istanbul with Mustafa Hakan Alvan and in 2015 he was admitted to the conservatory of Rotterdam where he was the student of the legendary Kudsi Erguner. Hakan is considered of being the most talented Ney player of his generation. He is a regular member of the Tevazu Sufi Music Ensemble.
Emma Farnell-Watson
Dance and choreography
Emma’s work spans both screen and stage. Drawing from her own dance career working with notable contemporary companies such as Hofesh Shechter and an extensive range of commercial brands, she has developed her own creative language and voice as a maker. She aspires to create a unique movement language that captives and moves audiences, emotionally and intellectually.
Performance
Emmas career spans over both the contemporary and commercial fields. She has toured internationally with Jasmin Vardimon Company and currently with Hofesh Shechter Company.
She has choreographed for Magnum, Adidas, Marimekko, Burberry, Freya Ridings, Jamie Cullum, Hikaru Utada, Concerto Copenhagen, Canne Film Festival and Marks and Spencer, aswell as assisted on videos for George Ezra, Baby Queen and Sandman Season 2 for Netflix.
She loves to continue working for stage and has made work for English National Ballets Youth Company and Immersive Theatre Company, RIFT.
Instrumentation:
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Horn
Percussion
Theorbo/Oud
Soprano
Violin
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double bass
Ney
Qanûn
Concerto Copenhagen
For over thirty years, Concerto Copenhagen has embarked on a journey of discovery, exploring music from the Baroque, Viennese Classical, and Early Romantic periods with historical awareness and unwavering commitment. Today, Concerto Copenhagen stands as a leading light in its field, both nationally and internationally. Under the musical direction of Lars Ulrik Mortensen, Concerto Copenhagen combines a methodical approach to historical material with artistic originality and a continual evolution in performance style and delivery. This ensures that the music is brought to life in a process of dynamic renewal and remains relevant to contemporary audiences.
Since its inaugural concerts in 1991, Concerto Copenhagen has released multiple internationally acclaimed albums and participated in hundreds of concerts, opera productions, as well as soundtrack and video productions around the world. With a repertoire that combines more familiar European music with lesser-known works of Scandinavian origin and new music, the orchestra celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2021 and was subsequently nominated for P2 Artist of the Year 2022.
Instrumentation:
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Horn
Percussion
Theorbo/Oud
Soprano
Violin
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double bass
Ney
Qanûn