Culture minister visits orchestra building

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Culture and Tourism Minister Ertuğrul Günay yesterday visited the new building of the Presidency Symphony Orchestra (CSO), the construction of which is continuing in Ankara on a total area of 160,000 square meters, with over 60,000 square-meters of closed area.

Günay said the building would be located in Ankara’s cultural area, near a number of museums, the Cer Modern, the State Opera, and the Ballet General Directorate.

He said the CSO would have two concert halls, each with a 2,500-person capacity, as well as various choir and artist working areas and a car parking space.

“The construction started in 1995. It is very important to finish the construction by the end of 2013, because the end of 2013 is the 90th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. I hope that Ankara will have a big and magnificent concert hall befitting the 90th year of the Republic,” Günay said.

He also said that the foundation of the Turkish Civilizations Museum would be laid in the hippodrome area this year. “These are developments that will change the face of Ankara and make it a contemporary capital. It is a big development even to lay its foundation. I hope that it will be finished in the 100th anniversary of the Republic,” he said.