Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

Especially for Istanbul Ekspres, Erdem Helvacıoğlu (guitar, electronica) and Heleen van Haegenborgh (piano) will go back to their roots. The journey will take them way back to the 15th century. In Ghent for her, in Istanbul for him. Turkish melodic schemes and 15th century Flemish polyphonic harmonies form the starting point.

Erdem Helvacıoğlu is one of the most interesting electronic artists in Istanbul and also boasts an international career. He creates sound portraits of Istanbul with the help of recordings he makes all over the city: a Turkish sound tapestry that takes you far, far away.

Heleen Van Haegenborgh is a young pianist from Ghent who focuses on contemporary music and regularly works with non-musicians for this purpose.