Hezarfen Ensemble - Michael Ellison: A Tryptich of Transcultural Operas (2026) [Hi-Res]
Artist: Hezarfen Ensemble, Vocaallab Nederland, Lucas Vis, Michael Raffert, Can Okan
Title: Michael Ellison: A Tryptich of Transcultural Operas
Year Of Release: 2026
Label: Métier
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks + booklet) [96kHz/24bit]
Total Time: 4:19:49
Total Size: 4.17 / 1.22 GB
WebSite: Album Preview
Tracklist:Title: Michael Ellison: A Tryptich of Transcultural Operas
Year Of Release: 2026
Label: Métier
Genre: Classical
Quality: FLAC (tracks + booklet) [96kHz/24bit]
Total Time: 4:19:49
Total Size: 4.17 / 1.22 GB
WebSite: Album Preview
Disc 1
1. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi: Prelude (02:15)
2. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 1: Haydar (Bozlak). Aman Dünyada Herey Var (03:09)
3. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 1: Narrators. Soluk solua geldiler (02:50)
4. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 1: Haydar (Bozlak). Hay Koca Allah (04:50)
5. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 1: Narrators. Obann çocuklar, korkuyla, kavalclara bakar (02:02)
6. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 1: Dans (semah), Dede ve Koro. Allah, Allah, Allah (02:31)
7. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 2: Narrators. Koca Hzr, Keremim ben (05:24)
8. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 2: Ceren (Bozlak). Güzel yldz, bir göreyim seni (06:23)
9. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 2: Caption (ensemble). Halilin ba, Çukurovada klak sorunundan kaynaklanan (00:57)
10. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 3: Dans. Davul-Sipsi. Klak Ararken (00:35)
11. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 3: Narrators. Bu güz Çukura inince (03:11)
12. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 3: Narrators. Ben Muhtar Fehmiyim (05:37)
13. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 3: Haydar (Bozlak). Kalktk Horasandan sökün eyledik (02:46)
14. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Ceren (Türkü). Duyarm tek tek hepsini (03:00)
15. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Narrators. Cerene Oktay Bey Kaç yldr sevdal (06:18)
16. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Narrators. Veririm seni Oktay Beye zorla (02:32)
17. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Ceren (Bozlak). Ölelim ama, kendimiz gibi (05:09)
18. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Ceren. Halilin kan yere göllenir (02:34)
19. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 4: Caption. Halilin öldüü haberi gitmi obaya (02:07)
20. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 5: Narrators. imdi herkes düman (03:45)
21. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 5: Dans (a city fanfare) (00:45)
22. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 5: Haydar (Adana Bozla) & Narrators. Uzun evler, gecenin içinden heyula gibi (01:29)
23. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 5: Haydar (Bozlak). Aman Çukurovann koca beyi (09:26)
24. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 5: Haydar. Herey deiir bozulur (00:55)
25. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 6: Narrators. Çadrlar saydn m (02:13)
26. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 6: Narrators. O ölmü çocuk! (02:18)
27. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 6: Ceren (Bozlak). Kzlara sevdalanr kara ylan (01:55)
28. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 6: Ceren (Bozlak). Halil, Halil! Gelmedin (01:54)
29. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 6: Caption. Ceren kendi gönlünle Oktay Beye varmaya karar verir. (01:06)
30. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 7: Narrators. Oktay Beyin babas (02:45)
31. Erdem Şimşek – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 7: Haydar (Bozlak). Tek kaynaktan çktk (04:59)
32. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 7: Caption. Halil beyaz atyla geldi, krmz yakut gözlü (00:28)
33. Hezarfen Ensemble – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 8: Dans. Açltaki yldz manzarasnabetimlemesine dönü (00:44)
34. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 8: Narrators. Göster bana yldzn, ya Hzr dileim (04:10)
35. Canan Özgür – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 8: Narrators. Ne ii var burada Bu ekyann (01:22)
36. Fatma Aydogan – Binboğalar Efsanesi, Episode 8: Ceren (Bozlak). Aman! Bu geceyi mi buldunuz (06:12)
Disc 2
1. Ekaterina Levental – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act I, Tableau 1: I Dreamed of a Time (Melike) (10:52)
2. Gunnar Brandt-Sigurdsson – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act I, Tableau 2: I’ve Wandered Thirsty (Shams) (07:37)
3. Ekaterina Levental – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act I, Tableau 3: Mevlâna, Mevlâna (Students) (07:33)
4. Gunnar Brandt-Sigurdsson – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act I, Tableau 4: Who’s at the door? (Shams, Mevlâna) (17:43)
5. Tiemo Wang – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act II, Tableau 5: The time moves oh, so slowly (Students, Veled) (10:26)
6. Ekaterina Levental – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act II, Tableau 6: My dear father (Melike) (06:41)
7. Arnout Lems – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act II, Tableau 7: Did you know, Veled’s found Sams (Students, Mevlâna) (08:01)
8. Ekaterina Levental – Mevlâna (Say I am You), Act II, Tableau 8: It’s been 40 days, like he’s in a tomb (Students, Mevlâna) (10:59)
Disc 3
1. Hezarfen Ensemble – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman): Sea-Music (Instrumental) (Live) (00:54)
2. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 1: Villagers. Murder here! - A dusty blast from the mad south wind (Live) (02:29)
3. Hezarfen Ensemble – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 1: Blind to the waves crashing over the asphalt road (Live) (00:52)
4. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 1: Zeynel & Villagers. Bastard! Zeynel was crazy! (Live) (01:58)
5. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 1: Villagers. Selim.! Bastard! Murderer! (Live) (02:16)
6. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 1: Narrator. Silently, I cursed the whole world (Live) (02:40)
7. Hezarfen Ensemble – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Sea-Music (Live) (01:04)
8. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Selim. It's a month now I've been after him (Live) (04:08)
9. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Selim & Villagers. I had a dolphin friend once... (Live) (02:01)
10. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Dolphin Dance. Villagers. There they were, streaming up to him (Live) (02:18)
11. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Villagers. Nobody recalls what year it was when dolphin oil became a precious co (Live) (01:29)
12. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Selim & Villagers. Dont do this! There are many other fish in the sea. (Live) (01:32)
13. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Villagers & Selim. It was then people gave him the nickname Sea-Crossed Selim.. (Live) (03:13)
14. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Villagers & Selim. He went mad, poor fisher Selim. (Live) (01:18)
15. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Villagers & Selim. In the old days, not now (Live) (06:39)
16. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 2: Villagers. I killed a man!-announces Zeynel (Live) (02:04)
17. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 3: Villagers. - Whos that - ‘Only a fisherman’, (Zeynel accused of deception) (Live) (02:08)
18. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 3: Villagers. So what... I killed Ihsan! (Live) (03:43)
19. Damian Thantrey – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 3: Fortune-Teller. Buyurun! (Live) (02:26)
20. Adam Green – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 3: Boza! (Live) (01:17)
21. Robyn Allegra Parton – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 3: Villagers. Istanbul police showered with tip-offs (Live) (04:15)
22. Hezarfen Ensemble – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Sea-Music (Selim Builds a House) (Live) (00:44)
23. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Selim. This spring, I'm gonna buy that land (Live) (03:15)
24. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Selim & Zeynel. "Zeynel, my child The police are coming" (Live) (04:17)
25. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Selim. Lets build my house at once! (Live) (02:02)
26. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Villagers & Selim. He'll take her from the sea (Live) (01:09)
27. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Villagers & Selim. Don't you know me, Selim? I'm Süleyman (Live) (02:44)
28. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Selim, Vezirolu & Villagers. I want to see Halim Bey Vezirolu! (Live) (02:08)
29. Gwion Thomas – Deniz Küstü (The Sea-Crossed Fisherman), Scene 4: Selim. It wasn't her! (Live) (01:46)
In June 2026, Métier proudly presents composer Michael Ellison’s ground-breaking set of Three Transcultural Operas: Mevlana (Say I am you), Deniz Küstü (The Sea Crossed Fisherman), and bozlak opera Binboğalar Efsanesi (Legend of a Thousand Bulls), all performed with the Hezarfen Ensemble, the leading Turkish contemporary music ensemble co-founded by Michael Ellison.
Ellison spent ten years working in Istanbul and has imbued these operas with an unprecedented level of integration of Turkish culture, music, and traditional instruments, seamlessly blending them with contemporary music in a unique and personal idiom. Ellison’s is a music of singing melody, colour, and contrast, evocative atmosphere, and emotional breadth and has been described as “beautifully crafted, robust, and absorbing” by the American Record Guide.
A new, 2026 High Resolution edition of Mevlana (originally released in 2014 on Métier) joins the newly recorded performances of Deniz Küstü and Binboğalar Efsanesi to bring together a first complete triptych of operas. Alongside the audio recordings, Métier will release the complete digital video productions of Deniz Küstü and Binboğalar Efsanesioperas recorded at the Istanbul Music Festival.
Mevlana (Say I am You) was the first opera to include Turkish instruments and vocal styles, blended here with Western operatic tradition and based on the poetry of Rumi, the historic mystic. This hypnotic work dramatically traces the story of the transformation of Jelaluddin Rumi (Mevlâna) from ordinary scholar to ecstatic mystic at the hands of wandering dervish Shams-i Tabriz and features the dynamic vocal ensemble VocaalLAB Nederland with the Hezarfen Ensemble.
Ellison’s second and third operas are compelling tales that resonate with the global challenges of today, both adapted from novels by Yaşar Kemal and directed for stage by Simon Jones. Powerful and dramatic, Deniz Küstü (The Sea Crossed Fisherman) tells the tragic tale of village-loner Selim and orphaned street-child Zeynel, integrating traditional Turkish instruments, contemporary elements, and Western opera singers. Its shocking events and environmental repercussions reflect our own current concerns. The opera also celebrates Istanbul, its seas and marine life, contrasting the real and fantastical seascape of the Bosphorus with the dizzying, teeming metropolis of Istanbul and one small fishing village.
“The Sea-Crossed Fisherman is an arresting picture of Istanbul, from its glittering dawns to its seething underbelly, and Kemal’s…lyrical prose is a good fit for the American composer Michael Ellison…” —James Imam, Opera Magazine
Powerful and moving, Binboğalar Efsanesi (Legend of a Thousand Bulls) is based on the masterpiece novel by Yaşar Kemal about the decline and disappearance of the last nomads in Turkey, as their millennia-old pastoral way of life is destroyed. The culmination of an 8-year European Research Council project, “Beyond East and West,” Binboğalar Efsanesi is a unique work, sung in Turkish and integrates the dramatic, virtuoso style of traditional bozlak Anatolian folk music voices with contemporary language. Hale Tetik, of Andante Magazine, wrote: “The love, sorrow, grief, and rebellion, emanating from the voice of bozlak singer Fatma Aydoğan, were engraved in our hearts.”
Michael Ellison has been commissioned and performed by major orchestras and festivals across Europe and the US, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Variances, Radio France, Grenoble Festival, New York Youth Symphony, Siemens Foundation, amongst many others. He was principal investigator on the European Research Council project Beyond East and West: Developing and Documenting an Evolving Transcultural Musical Practice (2015-2023) and the PI of the AHRC-Istanbul Development Agency supported project Transtraditional Istanbul. He teaches composition at the University of Bristol, England.
Ellison spent ten years working in Istanbul and has imbued these operas with an unprecedented level of integration of Turkish culture, music, and traditional instruments, seamlessly blending them with contemporary music in a unique and personal idiom. Ellison’s is a music of singing melody, colour, and contrast, evocative atmosphere, and emotional breadth and has been described as “beautifully crafted, robust, and absorbing” by the American Record Guide.
A new, 2026 High Resolution edition of Mevlana (originally released in 2014 on Métier) joins the newly recorded performances of Deniz Küstü and Binboğalar Efsanesi to bring together a first complete triptych of operas. Alongside the audio recordings, Métier will release the complete digital video productions of Deniz Küstü and Binboğalar Efsanesioperas recorded at the Istanbul Music Festival.
Mevlana (Say I am You) was the first opera to include Turkish instruments and vocal styles, blended here with Western operatic tradition and based on the poetry of Rumi, the historic mystic. This hypnotic work dramatically traces the story of the transformation of Jelaluddin Rumi (Mevlâna) from ordinary scholar to ecstatic mystic at the hands of wandering dervish Shams-i Tabriz and features the dynamic vocal ensemble VocaalLAB Nederland with the Hezarfen Ensemble.
Ellison’s second and third operas are compelling tales that resonate with the global challenges of today, both adapted from novels by Yaşar Kemal and directed for stage by Simon Jones. Powerful and dramatic, Deniz Küstü (The Sea Crossed Fisherman) tells the tragic tale of village-loner Selim and orphaned street-child Zeynel, integrating traditional Turkish instruments, contemporary elements, and Western opera singers. Its shocking events and environmental repercussions reflect our own current concerns. The opera also celebrates Istanbul, its seas and marine life, contrasting the real and fantastical seascape of the Bosphorus with the dizzying, teeming metropolis of Istanbul and one small fishing village.
“The Sea-Crossed Fisherman is an arresting picture of Istanbul, from its glittering dawns to its seething underbelly, and Kemal’s…lyrical prose is a good fit for the American composer Michael Ellison…” —James Imam, Opera Magazine
Powerful and moving, Binboğalar Efsanesi (Legend of a Thousand Bulls) is based on the masterpiece novel by Yaşar Kemal about the decline and disappearance of the last nomads in Turkey, as their millennia-old pastoral way of life is destroyed. The culmination of an 8-year European Research Council project, “Beyond East and West,” Binboğalar Efsanesi is a unique work, sung in Turkish and integrates the dramatic, virtuoso style of traditional bozlak Anatolian folk music voices with contemporary language. Hale Tetik, of Andante Magazine, wrote: “The love, sorrow, grief, and rebellion, emanating from the voice of bozlak singer Fatma Aydoğan, were engraved in our hearts.”
Michael Ellison has been commissioned and performed by major orchestras and festivals across Europe and the US, including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble Variances, Radio France, Grenoble Festival, New York Youth Symphony, Siemens Foundation, amongst many others. He was principal investigator on the European Research Council project Beyond East and West: Developing and Documenting an Evolving Transcultural Musical Practice (2015-2023) and the PI of the AHRC-Istanbul Development Agency supported project Transtraditional Istanbul. He teaches composition at the University of Bristol, England.
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