Bülent Evcil – flute
“Bülent Evcil has a marvelous tone and a superb technique. He is all-around a most impressive flutist and I would say one of the most outstanding of his generation.”
SIR JAMES GALWAY
Bülent Evcil is an exceptional flutist who is devoted not only to the standard repertoire but also to the creation of programs featuring traditional Turkish repertoire. In recent times, he has given the world premieres of two of the most important additions to contemporary repertoire – the Fazil Say Flute Concerto with the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chamber Symphony No. 3 for Solo Flute and String Orchestra by Ukraine’s preeminent composer, Yevhen Stankovych. He has given the Turkish premieres of Joacquin Rodrigo’s Concierto Pastoral, the Flute Concerto by American composer Lowell Lieberman and the James Galway transcription of the Khachaturian Violin Concerto in the version for flute and orchestra.
He began studying the flute at the MSU State Conservatory in 1980 in Turkey and continued at the Brussels Royal Conservatory and Heidelberg-Mannheim School of Music. In 1992 he had the privilege to be a student of Sir James Galway, who described Evcil as ‘one of the best flutists of his generation.’
During the period 2000-2005 he worked as the Principal Flutist of the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet. Presently. He presently serves as the Principal Flutist of the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra and Solo Flutist of the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra. Evcil has been invited to perform with numerous international orchestras including the Sao Paulo State Symphony Orchestra and the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic Orchestra under the leadership of Lorin Maazel, both as soloist and Principal Flutist.
Evcil has been an invited guest artist at numerous festivals worldwide, including the Italian International Flute Festival, Flautomania Teatro La Scala in Milan, the Slovenian International Flute Festival, the French Flute Festival in Nice and Serbian International Flute Festival in Belgrade, the Pristine Flute Festival, Kosovo and National Flute Association Flute Convention Headliner Concerts in San Diego and New York City in the USA. He regularly conducts masterclasses worldwide.
Evcil has made significant contributions to broaden the popularity of his instrument and has continually advocated the music of his Turkish homeland internationally. He was awarded by Classical Music Magazine ANDANTE the the Best Woodwind Player of 2010 in Turkey.
As a prodigious recording artist, his principal recordings include TANGO TIME, released on the KALAN MUSIC label in Turkey, Middle Eastern Miniatures and The Flute Virtuoso, recorded in 2015, in collaboration with the distinguished pianist, Phillip Moll.