"Hagia Irene. Preparing for the Concert"
© Mark Buckley-Sharp May-02
Hagia Irene (Church of Divine Peace), in the first court of Topkapı Palace, was built in the 6^th century and has been little altered since. It was never converted to a mosque so it has no minaret. Hagia Irene is nearly always closed, but is used for concerts during the Mozart Festival each May/June. Happening to pass when it was open, we were privileged to be allowed in for a quick viewing. Here, the piano is being tuned ready for the evening event. The synthronon (tiered seats for priests) in the apse is original.

So-called turkish music was popular in Mozart’s time, and his ‘Abduction from the Seraglio’ has been regularly performed and also filmed in Topkapı Palace.