Inspired by the ancient city illuminating the East and West, Constantinople stands at the crossroads of artistic encounters; drawing from the heritage of the Middle-Ages and the Renaissance, from Europe to the Mediterranean and to the Middle-East. Founded in 2001 in Montreal by artistic director Kiya Tabassian, Constantinople honors and shares the rich musical traditions of the world by creating new music in the form of unique encounters, connections and bridges between cultures, periods, styles and people, and by disseminating it around the globe. Constantinople has 20 albums to its credit and traveled to more than 290 cities in 57 countries presenting over 60 works.

Setar virtuoso and acclaimed composer, Kiya Tabassian has carved out a privileged place on the international music scene with his ensemble Constantinople and also as a soloist.master in cross-cultural musical encounters, he travels across the continents, presenting his musical creations and collaborations on stages all over the world. With a background in Persian scholarly music he never ceases to explore different musical trails: from medieval manuscripts to contemporary aesthetics, from Mediterranean Europe to the East or passing through the open spaces of the Baroque New World. Tabassian cofounded Constantinople in 2021 developing more than fifty programs with his ensemble.

Ablaye Cissoko, was born in Kolda (Senegal) from a Griot (A West African traveling poet/musician/storyteller, maintaining a tradition of oral history) family. Based in Saint-Louis, Senegal, he is an eternal traveler—part of a new generation of artists who incarnate the crossover between Mandinka traditions and contemporary musical creation. Since 2002, he has played all around the world, from Africa to Europe and America, collaborating with renowned world music and jazz international artists such as Randy Weston, François Jeanneau, Majid Bekkas, Richard Galliano, Benat Achiary, Volker Goetze or La Chimera ensemble directed by Eduardo Egüez.