London Audience Gives Standing Ovation to Cross-Cultural Performance Echoing Travelogues
Echoing Travelogues: The Beyond and Us, an interdisciplinary performance exploring centuries of cultural exchange between the Ottoman world and Europe, received an enthusiastic response at its UK premiere in London on Friday.
Presented by the Yunus Emre Institute London at the historic Tabernacle in Notting Hill, the production combined music, storytelling, historical research, visual design and immersive 4D spatial sound technology, offering audiences a unique artistic journey through shared cultural heritage.
The internationally acclaimed project brought together Türkiye’s Dareyn Ensemble and the Netherlands-based Holland Baroque, marking the first time the production had been staged in the United Kingdom. Inspired by travel narratives and cultural encounters between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, the performance reinterpreted historical memory through a contemporary artistic lens.
Led by internationally recognised Istanbul kemençe performer and artistic director Emine Bostancı, the production explored historical journeys linking the Ottoman Empire and Europe through music, narration and immersive visual environments. The creative team included Research Director Dr Zeynep Yıldız Abbasoğlu, Sound Designer Joris Takken and Video Designer Ataman Girişken.
Drawing inspiration from the writings of diplomats, travellers and musicians who documented encounters between the Ottoman world and Europe in the seventeenth century, the work examined how societies shape their identities through engagement with different cultures. Historical figures featured in the narrative included Dutch diplomat Levinus Warner, renowned Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi and musician-composer Ali Ufki (Wojciech Bobowski).
The performance featured Emine Bostancı on Istanbul kemençe, Zeynep Yıldız Abbasoğlu on kanun, Judith Steenbrink on Baroque violin, Tineke Steenbrink on positive organ, Vinsent Planjer on percussion and narrator Nora Fischer. Together, the artists blended Ottoman court music, Mevlevi musical traditions and European Baroque repertoire, highlighting centuries of artistic exchange and mutual influence.
A notable feature of the production was its innovative stage design, which recreated historical settings through contemporary technology. Inspired by landmarks including Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Mevlevi lodges and St Stephen’s Cathedral, the visual and sound design immersed audiences in a multi-layered exploration of historical memory. The use of 4D spatial sound technology was particularly praised by attendees for enhancing the sensory experience.
The event attracted a diverse audience and was attended by Dr Mehmet Karakuş, Director of the Yunus Emre Institute London, Ambassador Hasan Ulusoy, Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in London, as well as representatives from the arts, academic and diplomatic communities.
At the conclusion of the performance, the artists received a prolonged standing ovation. Audience members commended the production for its musical quality, innovative approach and cultural depth.
The UK premiere marked a significant milestone for Echoing Travelogues: The Beyond and Us, reinforcing the Yunus Emre Institute’s efforts to promote Türkiye’s cultural heritage internationally while fostering intercultural dialogue through contemporary artistic productions.
