Fazıl Say denies allegations of humiliating treatment; Hande Küden responds

The pianist and composer rejects the violinist’s account of their rehearsal exchanges. Küden has since responded publicly to a further comment attributed to Say.

Updated November 13, 2026, to include Küden’s response.

Fazıl Say has denied allegations by Berlin Philharmonic violinist Hande Küden that he subjected her to humiliating treatment during rehearsals for the newly launched Özyeğin Philharmonic Orchestra. Küden has since published a response, arguing that a subsequent social media comment attributed to Say illustrates the attitude she had criticised.

“The allegations made about me by Hande Küden are untrue,” Say said in his statement responding to the violinist’s announcement that she would no longer participate in his projects.

Say, the orchestra’s artistic director, said he had also been working with the ensemble in his capacity as a composer. He described his requests concerning the interpretation of his music as “purely professional musical requirements” and maintained that his communication with Küden had remained within the boundaries of professional respect and conduct.

He said musicians and colleagues present at the rehearsals had witnessed both his requests and the manner in which he expressed them. That assertion forms part of Say’s account; his statement does not include separate testimony from those musicians.

Say cites public appreciation for Küden

Say also pointed to his public acknowledgement of the violinist during the orchestra’s inaugural concert, saying he had expressed his appreciation for her both to the ensemble and before an audience of 1,500.

“Sharing my musical expectations as a composer does not change the respect I have for the artist with whom I work,” he said.

He described the controversy as deeply upsetting and said he did not want it to overshadow the collective work behind the orchestra or the celebration of its first performance.

Küden responds to a further comment

In a subsequent Instagram post, Küden responded to a comment by Say, reproducing it with an English translation: “Hande Küden should stop dragging this out any longer. She got what she wanted. We know exactly what she was after. We wish her luck in life, too.”

“I guess there is no longer any need for me to explain in detail exactly what words he used during the rehearsal and how he humiliated me in front of 80 people with his condescending attitude,” Küden wrote. “I thank him for exposing himself and taking this burden off my shoulders.”

The allegation and the launch concert

Küden’s announcement followed the Özyeğin Philharmonic’s inaugural concert on November 9 at Istanbul’s Lütfi Kırdar Congress and Exhibition Centre. She served as concertmaster, with Tianyi Lu conducting Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Say’s piano concerto Mother Earth, performed by the composer.

In her initial statement, reported on November 11, Küden alleged that Say’s behaviour during rehearsals had been humiliating and would have been unacceptable in the leading international orchestras with which she regularly works. She announced that she would not take part in any of his future projects, while expressing her hope that the new orchestra would develop a healthy working environment and continue for many years.

Say and Küden have presented conflicting accounts of the rehearsal exchanges. Moto Perpetuo has not independently verified what was said during those rehearsals.

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