Join pioneering early-music performer and scholar Jordi Savall and his outstanding ensemble Hespèrion XXI to immerse yourself in the sounds and rhythms of one of the world’s most ancient and most vibrant cities: Istanbul.

At the highpoint of the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century, Istanbul drew in music and cultural traditions from right across the known world, standing at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

Savall delves into Moldavian prince and long-time Istanbul resident Dimitrie Cantemir’s 1710 The Book of the Science of Music to shine a searching new light on a forgotten golden age of music, and Istanbul’s sophisticated blend of Islamic, Sephardic and Armenian traditions.

Joining Hespèrion XXI are musicians from Armenia, Greece, Israel, Morocco and Turkey. With its dazzling music and hypnotic rhythms, The Book of the Science of Music is a revelatory musical experience for historical experts and lay listeners alike.