A new event within the scope of the activities organized due to 2021 being declared the "Year of Yunus Emre and Turkish Language" was organized by Yunus Emre Institute with the "Breath of Yunus" concert in Mexico.

Turkish songs and Yunus Emre hymns were performed with Mexican artists during the concert organized by Yunus Emre Institute at the Angela Peralta Concert Hall in Mexico City on October 23, 2021.

Mexicans showed great interested in the concert "Breath of Yunus in Mexico" organized by Yunus Emre Institute, which represents Turkey in the field of cultural diplomacy, in collaboration with the Republic of Turkey Embassy in Mexico. Many representatives from foreign missions and corporate executives of Turkey in Mexico participated in the concert.

In the concert where Mexican musicians performed 15 works in Turkish and Spanish, the Turkish musicians also participated in the concert through videoconferencing and received great applause from the audience.

WORKS OF TURKISH ARTISTS WERE ALSO PERFORMED

In the concert, the Mexican artists performed the works of famous artists of Turkey such as Orhan Gencebay, Haluk Levent, Tarkan, Candan Erçetin, Barış Manço and Şükriye Tutkun for the music lovers.

Mexican musician Lubella Gauna performed the soundtrack of the TV series Diriliş Ertuğrul with her violin.

"YUNUS ADVISES US TO SEE 72 NATIONS FROM THE SAME PERSPECTIVE"

The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy sent a message to the participants of the concert through videoconferencing and thanked everyone who contributed to the organization. Ersoy shared the compliments of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Turkish people with the concert audience.

Ersoy emphasized that 2021 was declared the "Year of Yunus Emre and Turkish Language" by the President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan since it was the 700th anniversary of Yunus Emre's death and said that they took action to introduce the entire world to Yunus Emre's philosophy that is built on love and tolerance.

Ersoy continued his speech by sharing the words of Yunus Emre and said, "Yunus advises us to 72 nations from the same perspective. In other words, he explains that we must see the humanity without prejudice, discrimination and otherizing. He shows the way for this by saying, 'We tolerate the created for the sake of the Creator.'"

Ersoy thanked the Mexican authorities, people and artists and finished his words with a verse by Yunus Emre.

"THE TEAM OF YUNUS EMRE INSTITUTE HAVE CARRIED OUT GREAT WORKS HERE"

In his speech, the Republic of Turkey's Ambassador in Mexico, Tahsin Timur Söylemez said that the Mexican music lovers showed great interest in the event.

Söylemez mentioned that they will establish a Yunus Emre Institute in Mexico also and said, "First, I must say that we are very excited. Of course, we wanted to organize an activity that would bring people together and excite them before the opening."

Söylemez stated that they have performed Turkish music with Mexican street musicians in the most well-known area of the Mexico City and said, "The team of Yunus Emre Institute have carried out great works here. We had a terrific participation. The weather was excellent, and the performances were superb. It was a wonderful event."

"THE CONCERT WAS BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS"

Mexico Yunus Emre Institute Director, Salih Gültekin said that they were happy to carry out the first of their activities in Mexico and stated that they have organized a very colorful event.

Gültekin mentioned that they have received excellent reactions from the audience from the concert hall and said, "Mexican artists performed Turkish songs and some Turkish artists performed Mexican songs. This concert was excellent and beyond our expectations."

Member of the Supervisory Board of Yunus Emre Institute and CHP Istanbul Deputy of the 24th Term of the Turkish Parliament, Ali Özgündüz mentioned his pleasure in participating the program and thanked the Mexican music lovers for their interest in the concert.

Young Mexican musicians have also mentioned that they were grateful to Yunus Emre Institute and Turkey for the concert opportunity provided for them.

"THE CONCERT WAS A GREAT EXCITEMENT FOR ME"

Musician Alejandra Nefertiti Ramon Franco mentioned that she was quite happy to be participating in such an event and said, "This concert was both an excellent experience and a great excitement for me."

Mexican musician Lubella Gauna, who performed the soundtrack of the TV series Diriliş Ertuğrul with her violin, highlighted that recognition of Turkish music in Mexico made her happy and said, "I am quite please to perform the soundtrack of the TV series Diriliş Ertuğrul, which I take pleasure in listening to. It was truly a wonderful concert".

Musician Cleila Jania mentioned that she had the opportunity sing at this concert thanks to the Republic of Turkey's Embassy in Mexico and said, "I loved the song that I sang. I thank to those who have organized this event."

SPECIAL GIFTS TO THE AUDIENCE

At the end of the concert, a raffle was held, and one person was gifted round-trip flight ticket from Mexico to Istanbul by Turkish Airlines. Gifts that explain the Turkish culture were also presented during the concert, and 15 people won one-month accelerated online Turkish language course through raffle.