Bülent Evcil Artist Interview
Can you give us 5 career highlights?
1- Being Sir James Galway Student
2- Performing and playing premier of J. Rodrigo's flute Concerto with all major Turkish Orchestras.
3- Fazil Say wrote a flute concerto, dedicated it to me, and Recorded it with Camerata Salzburg at Mozarteum.
4- Playing under the conducting of Legendary conductor Lorin Mazel.
5- Being a Turkish flutist released an album with Only Turkish flute concertos last month.
How about 3 pivotal moments that were essential to creating the artist that you've become?
1-Being a Father.
2-Learning flute from Sir James Galway.
3- Playing solo flute in the Orchestras
What do you like best about performing?
Most of all, I love performing Maurice Ravel Daphnis and Chloe Suite No.2.
CD releases?
1- Tango Time
2-Middle Eastern Miniatures
3-Virtuoso Flute
5- Thomas de Hartman Concierto Andaluz
6-Fazıl Say flute Concerto
7- Two Concerto one Suit- Ekrem Zeki Un flute Concerto, Kamran Ince flute concerto
Turgay Erdener Green Dreams Suite
What does your schedule look like for the next 6 months?
Well, l do play solo flute in two major Orchestras in İstanbul. İstanbul State Symphony and Borusan İstanbul Philharmonic. So, l guess as an Orchestral musician, l will have more than 30 concerts coming in 6 months and three chamber music concerts. As a soloist, I have two recitals in Japan and three concerts with different Orchestras in Turkey. l will also play Joaquin Rodrigo's” Concierto Pastorale” after 19 years! which l am very excited about. As we all know, it is the most difficult flute concerto ever.. it will be challenging.. I will also learn and play a newly written Turkish flute concerto, which is also dedicated to me by a well-known composer in Turkey, Yalçın Tura. l also expect Fazil Says' “the flute world” recording to come out in these months, which has amazing solo music for the flute family. l have two recording projects, too.
What are your goals personally? Professionally?
Personally, being a good man and always helpful to those who deserve help. Also trying to be as happy as possible in this short life ... Professionally, I try to create the most beautiful sound out of flute and play as musically as possible.
Who inspires you the most in life?
Sir James Galway
What has been your greatest professional challenge?
Professionally, the challenge never ends.
The flute is an instrument that you have to work with every day. To master it every day is challenging, taking care of each. note. I try to be focused all the time on intonation, improving every day more than the day before... there is no end.
What has been your personal greatest challenge?
l have a daughter, Jasmin, and l always wanted to be good, even a great father, because she lives in Vienna and l live in Istanbul. Therefore, l always feel challenged to achieve as close as possible, but thankfully and humbly, l made it. We have a great understanding and a great love for each other.
Who were your music mentors? and what did you learn from them?
My biggest mentor was Sir James Galway. In my life l have had many good flute players and other great musician friends who helped and inspired me by sharing wonderful ideas. Among them: Raffaele Trevisani, Patrick Gallois, Fazil Say and Phillip Moll.
Can you give us 5 quirky, secret, fun (don't think too much about this) hobbies or passions?
Windsurfing, gym and fitness, and playing PC games if l have time :)
What 3 things would you offer as advice for a young flutist?
Invest in yourself. Learn from the masters. Try to study in a good flute class which has a good style. Entering a competition is a good way to improve. Get a good teacher who also plays well and trains you well in the flute. And, of course, practice, practice, and practice. Most importantly, practice slowly.
