Special guests: Mark Eliyahu, Rabbi David Menahem and Itamar Doari

The Oud Festival will host the main performance of the Saz Festival with the Diwan Saz ensemble and Turkish saz master and vocalist Dr. Okan Murat Öztürk. The performance is dedicated to the ancient and powerful soul melodies of the Turkish Sufi tradition. Guests will also include kamanja player Mark Eliyahu, vocalist Rabbi David Menachem and percussionist Itamar Doari.

Diwan Saz delves into Turkish, Central Asian and Middle Eastern folk music traditions, combining the spirit of Sufi playing with Jewish piyyut and the impressive Arabic traditions. Öztürk is one of the greatest scholars on the history of Anatolian music, Ottoman music and the maqamat in Turkish music. This collaboration creates an encounter between diverse cultures, religions and languages and a space for complex and refined musical dialog.