In the Grip of Arbitrariness

IN THE GRIP OF ARBITRARINESS

TO THE PUBLIC

According to information in the public domain and the press, the Presidential Symphony Orchestra concert of 20 February 2026 — planned about a year in advance, prepared within the framework of the relevant legislation, submitted for the Ministry's approval and, after approval, printed with forewords by the Director General and the Minister and announced to the public as part of the season programme, involving roughly 200 artists — has been cancelled without any reason being disclosed to the public. Yet rehearsals for the concert had begun, tickets had been sold and the event calendar had been officially announced.

Press reports contain no clear, official explanation of the concrete grounds on which the concert was cancelled by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The failure to state on what legal or administrative ground a pre-planned, approved and publicly announced concert was invalidated creates serious uncertainty.

The cancelled concert was an event planned about a year in advance and announced with the Ministry's approval, featuring as soloist Bruno de Sá — a countertenor of a kind exceedingly rare in the world, possessing an extraordinary vocal colour and advanced technical mastery, recognised through his international career.

Under the legislation, this programme was prepared by the CSO Executive Board chaired by the Chief Conductor, and entered into force with the knowledge and official approval of the Director General and the Minister.

Despite such long-term planning, the engagement of an international artist and institutional approval, cancelling an event whose tickets had been sold — while artists and audiences had already come to Ankara — without any explanation to the institution, the public or the citizens, is not merely an organisational failure; it is a grave administrative weakness incompatible with the seriousness of public administration.

This approach also constitutes open disrespect to the historical and institutional standing of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year; it drags one of Turkey's most deeply rooted art institutions — and the CSO management which, according to press claims, was informed of the cancellation only after the fact — into a humiliating position before the public.

The claims in the domestic and foreign press that the cancellation stemmed from possible "reservations" about the soloist's image or personal characteristics such as his sexual orientation are graver still. If such a situation exists, this is not merely an artistic intervention; it raises the suspicion of a direct human rights violation. Subjecting artists to discriminatory treatment on the basis of their identities, ways of life or orientations is in open conflict with the equality principle of the Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights, and the international conventions to which Turkey is a party.

Moreover, Bruno de Sá has previously performed in Turkey with the İzmir and Bursa State Symphony Orchestras — again with the approval of the Directorate General and the Ministry — and those events were carried out successfully without any problem. Allowing the same artist to appear with different state orchestras while blocking him specifically at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra is plainly contrary to the principle of equality and to the administration's duty of consistency with its own practice.

If a "drawback" now being asserted truly exists: Why was it not foreseen a year ago? Did the Ministry notice it only after rehearsals had begun? Why was it not possible to set another date for the replaced event? On what assessments, and how, was the programme approved in the first place? What new, concrete and legally legitimate reason, emerging at the last minute, made this cancellation unavoidable?

Every decision taken without answering these questions strengthens the suspicion that the administration is violating the principles of predictability, legal certainty, transparency and accountability, and deepens the public perception of arbitrary censorship.

For these reasons: – We clearly and strongly condemn the cancellation of this concert — according to the claims, without even notifying the institution — without justification and at the last minute. – We demand that it be announced to the public, in an official, open and verifiable statement, which authority took the decision — the Director General or the Minister — and on what grounds. – To ensure that this approach, which casts a shadow over the Presidential Symphony Orchestra's 200 years of respected institutional heritage, is not repeated, we regard unconditional respect for the administrative and artistic autonomy of art institutions as imperative.

We respectfully announce to the public that we will continue to defend art, artists and public art institutions resolutely against every form of arbitrary interference, pressure on artistic decisions, covert censorship and discriminatory practice.