Ruhi Su (1912–1985) was a Turkish opera singer, folk musician, and political voice. Trained as a baritone at the State Conservatory, he performed in opera but became best known for reviving Anatolian folk music with the bağlama. His interpretations of poets like Yunus Emre and Pir Sultan Abdal blended artistry with cultural preservation.
Ruhi Su in his youth
Ruhi Su in his older years
A committed socialist, he faced imprisonment and censorship, yet continued to perform and record. ‘When he died on September 20, 1985, at the age of 73, the people, oppressed under military boots, could not contain their anger, and the funeral turned into the first major mass demonstration after the September 12 coup. .’ (taken from Semra Çelebi’s article in gazetekadikoy.com)
Su’s funeral turned into a mass demonstration
Su left behind a legacy carried on by the Ruhi Su Culture and Arts Foundation, remembered as a bridge between opera, folk tradition, and social struggle.
This year, Ruhi Su Friends Choir is celebrating its 50th anniversary. In December 1975, Ruhi Su himself formed it in Istanbul under the name ‘Friends Choir’. The choir has long accompanied Ruhi Su in concerts and recordings; in the mid-1970s they shared several albums with him.
Ruhi Su with the ‘Friends Choir’
After his death in 1985, they changed their name to Ruhi Su Friends Choir to honor him and kept performing under various conductors. As of now, 50 years later, the choir continues, producing new recordings, especially of Ruhi Su’s repertoire, along with polyphonic folk songs in Turkish and other languages.
Make sure to visit Gazhane for the 50th anniversary of the Choir, celebrated with concerts, workshops, and panels from September 19 to 21, 2025, offering a glimpse of Su’s musical genius and his invaluable legacy!
