Suna Erdem

Dec 6, 2024 | theneweuropean.co.uk | Suna Erdem

A vision in blond wood, white leather bar stools and espresso machines, the Italian pavilion at WOMEX, the worldwide music expo, was hard to miss. There were thousands of acts from over 90 countries at the event, which was a scrum of networking industry people. But shining through the quotidian stands in Manchester Central, this year’s venue, the deliberately plush image of the Italian display conveyed a clear message: that when it comes to music, Italy’s where it’s at.

Jun 1, 2024 | theneweuropean.co.uk | Suna Erdem

It has been a tough time in politics and, if you look at the CVs of today’s wrecking ball of a government, you might be forgiven for thinking that the dreaming spires of Oxford are the authors of our misfortune. Successive Conservative cabinets — who created the mess of Brexit and who wasted millions on their reality-denying obsession to export asylum seekers to Rwanda, and who blew even larger amounts of cash buying dodgy PPE during the pandemic — were packed with Oxford humanities graduates.

Feb 10, 2024 | theneweuropean.co.uk | Suna Erdem

On a cold night in January, one hundred years ago in Manhattan, the Gershwin brothers were playing a late-night game of billiards. Their fun was shattered when Ira Gershwin picked up a newspaper and read about the premiere of his brother’s new jazz concerto just weeks later — a work that didn’t exist. In a panic, George set to work — he already had a musical to finish, so often worked on his concerto while on the train. But he did it.

Nov 3, 2023 | theneweuropean.co.uk | Suna Erdem

It’s tough being an operatic heroine. Opera houses the world over are haunted by the ghosts of female characters who die miserable deaths because of men. In Verdi’s Otello, Desdemona is strangled by her jealous, manipulated husband. Bizet’s headstrong Carmen, is stabbed by her former lover at a bullfight. Madame Butterfly, Cio-Cio-San, kills herself in the hope of forcing dastardly US naval officer Pinkerton to take on their love child.

Oct 23, 2023 | theneweuropean.co.uk | Suna Erdem

On a gristly, wet afternoon in Croydon, two musicians are bringing in some light. Watched by a group of keen, energetic eight-year-olds, harpist Veronika Lemishenko and cellist Natalia Subbotina are playing and explaining their music to the seemingly awe-struck youngsters. They’re even allowed  to have a go, their tiny torsos slotted incongruously underneath the oversized instruments.