Turkey: German piano star gives impromptu protest concert
- 11 years ago
German classical music star Davide Martello struck the ivory keys to rapturous applause in the middle of Istanbul's Taksim Square on Wednesday evening. The classicaly-trained Martello, who began playing at the age of seven, performed self-composed original pieces that gave new breath to Turkey's anti-government protesters, inspiring them to charge through the city beating drums and waving flags in the night.
The performance was part of Martello's touring show KlavierKunst, or "Piano Art", in which he aims to bring his music to every capital city in the world. Martello designed his own grand piano, an amplified and digitally tuned fusion of technology and traditional craftmanship, which he transports in his Volkswagen Vento to public performances.
Martello claimed via his Facebook page to be bringing a message of 'peace and freedom' to the Turkish protests, claiming that his purpose was to remind police and demonstrators that they 'are all one family'.
Protesters took back Istanbul's Taksim Square late Wednesday night after being driven out by police just an hour or so before. As soon as Davide Martello finished his performance, protesters began marching, playing music, and chanting through Istanbul's city streets.
The Turkish government says that up to 600 police have been injured in clashes while Turkey's Medical Association said that around 5,000 people have sought treatment in hospitals for minor injuries and breathing problems after enduring attacks of tear gas.
Demonstrators occupied Gezi Park on May 31 in response to government efforts to demolish the park to make way for commercial development. Since then, protests have evolved into an anti-government movement, spreading to other major cities across Turkey, including the capital Ankara.
The performance was part of Martello's touring show KlavierKunst, or "Piano Art", in which he aims to bring his music to every capital city in the world. Martello designed his own grand piano, an amplified and digitally tuned fusion of technology and traditional craftmanship, which he transports in his Volkswagen Vento to public performances.
Martello claimed via his Facebook page to be bringing a message of 'peace and freedom' to the Turkish protests, claiming that his purpose was to remind police and demonstrators that they 'are all one family'.
Protesters took back Istanbul's Taksim Square late Wednesday night after being driven out by police just an hour or so before. As soon as Davide Martello finished his performance, protesters began marching, playing music, and chanting through Istanbul's city streets.
The Turkish government says that up to 600 police have been injured in clashes while Turkey's Medical Association said that around 5,000 people have sought treatment in hospitals for minor injuries and breathing problems after enduring attacks of tear gas.
Demonstrators occupied Gezi Park on May 31 in response to government efforts to demolish the park to make way for commercial development. Since then, protests have evolved into an anti-government movement, spreading to other major cities across Turkey, including the capital Ankara.