What's On In Istanbul In November

Feride Yalav-Heckeroth

With the cold weather finally on its way after a hot and humid summer, Istanbul’s events are in full swing with everything from indie band concerts to artisanal food workshops. Make sure to get your tickets soon on Biletix before these events become sold out.
Tuesday 1st – Sunday 6th

Frankenstein

DESIGN | Tasarım Biennial City Tours
📅November 18-29
Tickets: 45TL

The IKSV (Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts) Design Biennial will be hosting tours through Istanbul’s most beautiful neighborhoods with the aim of highlighting architecture that possesses high historic and cultural value as well as neighborhood artist ateliers and shops. The tours include the neighborhoods of Beyoğlu One (5, 12, 19), Beyoğlu Two (4, 11, 18), Sultanahmet (4, 11, 18), Kuzguncuk (4, 11, 18), Fener-Balat (5, 12, 19), and Nişantaşı (4, 11, 18).
📍 Various Meeting Points

THEATER | National Theatre Live: Frankenstein
📅November 1, 8, 15, 22
Tickets: 45-56TL

National Theatre Live is an initiative operated by the Royal National Theatre in London, which broadcasts live via satellite performances of their productions. Watch Benedict Cumberbatch, Johnny Lee Miller, and Danny Boyle in this version of Mary Shelley’s famous Frankenstein on the Salon IKSV’s screen.
📍 Salon IKSV, +02 123 340 752
MUSIC | Sibel Köse Quintet
📅November 1
Tickets: 45TL

One of Turkey’s most important female jazz vocalists, Sibel Köse, is not only a master of improvisation but her rich and deep voice resonate with every interpretation. In this concert she pays homage to the great divas of jaz such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Carmen Mc Rae, Anita O’Day, and Shirley Horn.
📍 ENKA İbrahim Betil Auditorium, +02 122 762 214
WORKSHOP | Italian Artisanal Bread
📅November 3
Tickets: 120TL

Continuing to bring Italy to Turkey, Eataly Istanbul is now sharing its secrets to excellent artisanal bread making in this workshop. You’ll be learning the three most important steps: Impasto (dough), Formazione (shaping techniques), and Cottura (baking techniques). Get ready to make Panini bread with olives/butter, wheat Rotolino with olives, and Grissini.
📍 Eataly Kitchen Atelier, +02 123 366 600
MUSIC | Kalben
📅November 3
Tickets: 56.50TL

Ever since her debut at a Sofar Sounds Istanbul concert in a living room (which ended up being one of the most watched Sofar videos), Kalben has become one of the city’s favorite indie musicians. Having begun playing guitar at 14, Kalben is intimately connected to her lyrics and music, not holding back her emotions when she performs her poignant ballads.
📍 Babylon, +02 123 340 190
THEATER | Vivaldianno
📅November 5
Tickets: 67.50-321.50TL

One of the master’s of the baroque period, Antonio Vivaldi’s works are given a modern twist in this 3D musical where classical music comes together with technology and an incredible show of lights. Don’t miss out on this unique interpretation of Vivaldi’s greatest compositions.
📍 Ülker Sports Arena, +02 166 872 100
Monday 7th – Sunday 13th

Gökhan Türkmen/© Vimeo

MUSIC | Fazıl Say
📅 November 7
Tickets: 100TL

Turkey’s most famous pianist, Fazıl Say, takes the Istanbul stage in this concert that features the work of Turkish composers. The works of Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Ahmed Adnan Saygun, and İlhan Baran will be given new life with the talent of Say that has already made its mark on the world.
📍 ENKA İbrahim Betil Auditorium, +02 122 762 214
MUSIC | SFJAZZ Collective
📅 November 7
Tickets: 35-72.50TL

This San Francisco-based collective of eight very talented musicians pay their respects to an iconic musician every year. This time around they’ve chosen to honor the memory of Miles Davis in this Istanbul concert that will feature the talented musician’s best songs. Don’t miss out on this amazing repertoire!
📍 İş Sanat Kültür Merkezi, +02 123 161 083
CULTURE | Dervishes
📅 November 8
Tickets: 56TL

The Whirling Dervishes have become synonymous with Istanbul’s cultural heritage. Performed by followers of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, the dervishes perform this dance as a form of dhikr (rememberance of God). You’ll be mesmerized by the visual heightened by 360-degree video mapping technology.
📍 Hodjapasha Gösteri ve Etkinlik Merkezi, +02 125 114 626
MUSIC | Gökhan Türkmen
📅 November 9
Tickets: 45-107TL

There’s only a few musicians in the Turkish pop genre that can be called truly talented, and Gökhan Türkmen happens to be one of them. In this acoustic concert you’ll really get to experience everything Türkmen has to offer, including a powerful voice and his own lyrics and music.
📍 Ortaoyuncular Tiyatrosu, +02 122 511 865
WORKSHOP | Artisanal Coffee
📅 November 11
Tickets: 240TL

A naked cake forgoes an outer layer of buttercream so that the inner texture and colors are on show. In this workshop learn how to make the perfect naked cake at Istanbul’s leading culinary arts school. On the lesson plan is a white chocolate naked cake composed of hazelnut and a citrus flavored sponge cake with mandarin jelly, white chocolate, and ganache. The other creation is a salt water taffy popcorn and chocolate naked cake with chocolate flavored sponge cake and a banana chocolate butter cream.
📍 MSA, +02 122 903 550
Monday 14th – Sunday 20th

Kitaro/© Wikimedia Commons

MUSIC | Al Di Meola
📅 November 15
Tickets: 65-225TL

American jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitarist, composer, and record producer of Italian origin, Al Di Meola’s music career has spanned five decades including 24 albums to his name. One of the most influential jazz guitarists to date, don’t miss out on Meola’s performance in Istanbul.
📍 Zorlu Center PSM, +08 502 226 776
MUSIC | Sofi Tukker
📅 November 15
Tickets: 56.50TL

Known for their single ‘Drinkee’, which features the words of Brazilian poet Chacal’ın Relógio, Sofi Tukker made it big when the song was used in Apple’s commercial for their new watch. Now the American jungle pop duo will show off what else they have in store, including addictive drumbeats and guitar riffs.
📍 Babylon, +02 123 340 190
MUSIC | Kitaro
📅 November 16
Tickets: 192-380TL

Grammy-winning Japanese musician, composer, record producer, and arranger, Kitaro is one of the most prominent acts of the New-Age music genre. Having composed the soundtrack for the documentary The Silk Road, which was aired in Turkey in the 1980s, Kitaro has been especially popular with the Turkish audience, which means you’ll have to act quick to ensure you have your tickets for this amazing concert.
📍 Zorlu Center PSM, +08 502 226 776
COMEDY | Eddie Izzard
📅 November 16
Tickets: 82.50-162TL

After winning over the Turkish audience during his 2013 tour, English stand-up comedian Eddie Izzard is returning with his ‘Force Majeure Reloaded’ World Tour. Once referred to as the ‘Lost Python’ by John Cleese, Izzard’s fantastic comedic style is part whimsical monologue and part self-referential pantomime.
📍 UNIQ Istanbul, +02 122 860 391
THEATER |Fuerza Bruta
📅 November 18-23
Tickets: 250TL

After breathtaking performances in New York, Buenos Aires, London, Mexico, Peking, Tel Aviv, and Miami, Fuerza Bruta has finally made its way to Istanbul. The postmodern Argentinian theater show is a high-energy performance with live music and crazy aerial displays. This is definitely a show where no one falls asleep.
📍 Volkswagen Arena Istanbul, +02 123 776 700
Monday 21st – Wednesday 30th

Orchestra/© Wikimedia Commons

THEATER | Hedwig and the Angry Inch
📅November 26-28
Tickets: 47-67TL

Don’t miss out on this glam rock musical based on the iconic 2001 movie by John Cameron Mitchell who also played the lead, a transgender punk-rock girl from East Berlin who tours the U.S. revealing her life story and following a former lover/band mate who stole her songs.
📍 Trump Kültür ve Gösteri Merkezi, +02 123 487 867
MUSIC | Erik Satie’s 150th Birthday Concert
📅November 29
Tickets: 13-23TL

Russian pianist Georgy Voylochnikov, who has toured the world and been awarded several prestigious international awards, will pay homage to the works of famous French composer Erik Satie. Apart from Satie’s famous works, such as Gnossiennes and Gymnopédies, the concert will also include compositions by Debussy and Scriabin.
📍 Akbank Sanat, +02 122 523 500
MUSIC | CRR Symphony Orchestra
📅November 29
Tickets: 23.50-93.50TL

Flute virtuoso Patrick Gallois will be joined by the Turkish Cemal Reşit Rey symphony orchestra for this special concert. The performance will include the works of J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, and C.F. Gounod.
📍 CRR Concert Hall, +02 122 315 103
MUSIC | Oh Land
📅November 30
Tickets: 67.50-78.50TL

When a budding career in ballet came to an abrupt end due to an injury, Nanna Øland Fabricius became Oh Land, the Danish singer-songwriter and record producer. With four albums to her name, the beautiful and melodic Oh Land will grace the stage in Istanbul for what promises to be an unforgettable concert.
📍 Salon IKSV, +02 123 340 752

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