We caught up with Ilker Arcayürek about what initially attracted him to singing in his early years and the significance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s music in his performing life, ahead of his concert at LSO St Luke’s, as part of our Basically Beethoven series with BBC Radio 3 singer
When did you first start learning to sing, and why?
I started singing at the age of 9. First as a soprano in the boyschoir and later as a tenor in several choirs, including the Arnold Schönberg Choir. In the very beginning, singing became my passion, because I simple enjoyed being part of a group. We played soccer with smashed coke cans, had a great atmosphere in the group and I loved the tours at a young age. My first tenor solo in an opera house was ‘first prisoner’ in Fidelio under the baton of Claudio Abbado, which led me into taking voice lessons for the first time at the age of 23. From then on, I was seeking for more and become a professional singer because I really loved what I did and I still haven’t lost this fire in me to reach the top.
What do you enjoy most about singing Lieder and what role does it play in your musical life?
Singing Lieder has become personal therapy for me. I reflect and find myself in the poetry and try to express my own story within the words of the poet but in my mind, I have always an emotion which is related to me. All the grief, sorrow, desire but also happiness has become essential for me in making music.
Are there any tenor icons of the past and present that you particularly admire?
I can’t name only one – it depends also a lot on the repertoire. I love voices in general and am also fan of voices from other voice types. I became a fan of old recordings quite young and still listen to them.
And finally, in three words, please describe what the music of Beethoven means to you.
Inspiration, Joy, Power – Beethoven has been all of that already to many composers in his time and he still is giving these attributes to our generation. His music is not always easy to understand but the more I sing or listen to it, the more I learn from it and it makes me become a better musician.
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