A HOST of performances are envisaged with the launch of the 28th International İzmir Festival this summer.

Covering a wide-spectrum of classical and contemporary art performances, the festival will be held from June through to September 3 at unique historical locations, such as Ephesus Theater.

Hosted by the İzmir Foundation for Culture, Art and Education (İKSEV), the festival will welcome Polish conductor and composer Krzysztof Penderecki with the Warsaw Warsaw Symphony at the opening concert on June 14 at the Ephesus Antique Theater.

Marking the 600th year of diplomatic relations between Poland and Turkey, Polish Baroque Orchestra “Arte dei Suonatori” will perform “Alla Polacca, Alla Turca” with internationally renowned baroque violinist Rachel Podger on June 18, at the Library of Celsus.

The festival will welcome the Silk Road Ensemble under the acclaimed cellist and song writer Yo-Yo Ma’s artistic direction at festival’s closing performance at the Ahmet Adnan Saygun Art Center on Sept. 3

The Swiss-German Amaryllis Quartett including young violinists Gustav Frielinghaus and Lena Wirth, violist Lena Eckels and cellist Yves Sandoz will perform on June 25 at the Hagia Haralambos Church.

The İzmir State Opera and Ballet Orchestra will perform with conductor Lukas Karytinos and Greek tenor Mario Grangoulis and Turkish soprano Aytül Büyüksaraç on June 27 while young artists will mesmerize art enthusiasts at the İzmir Economy University Performing Center on July 5.

Mezzosoprano Liliana Zalesinska and pianist Szczepan Konczal will be at the St. John Baptist Church in İzmir’s Selçuk district on July 9, while the Italian music group Quartetto Di Venezia will perform at the Library of Celsus on July 11.

July’s schedule also includes the Martha Graham Dance Company exclusively for professional dance artists between June 10-19 and July 13-17.

New York’s oldest performing dance company was founded by late modern dancer Martha Graham, often called the “Picasso of Dance.” The public audience can watch the group’s performance under the artistic direction of Janet Eilber on July 17 at İzmir’s Culture Park Open Theater.

The full festival program and tickets will soon be available online at www.iksev.org/tr/ izmir-festivali/program