Greeting from the Artistic Director, Mr Lukas Karytinos
Dear Friends of the Athens State Orchestra,
The new artistic season begins with the same difficulties hanging over it that marked the end of its predecessor. The pandemic that has changed everything has dealt a powerful blow to both our concerts and our communication. It has forced us to find new and different ways to present ourselves, to perform great works from the repertoire with smaller ensembles, to collaborate remotely.
The new normal requires distance. It calls for the use of new technologies that will keep us safe in our homes, but far from the buzz of music performed live. Needless to say, we will adapt to the requirements of the day. We will employ every means available to enrich, reproduce and broadcast our work.
But we are here to rediscover the rhythm and harmony of our relationship. To reintroduce ourselves, to get to know each other better, and to enjoy the wonderful world of music together. And, following the guidelines to the letter, let us put ourselves in a place that can help us leave our daily cares and burdens behind and banish our mental tiredness and our resignation. Let's give ourselves the opportunity to communicate with our inner selves through music.
With the ASO, our orchestra.
Enjoy the music,
Lukas Karytinos
Lukas Karytinos is the new Director of the Athens State Orchestra
Announcement of the Ministry of Culture and Sport
By decision of the Minister of Culture and Sport, Ms Lina Mendoni, the conductor Lukas Karytinos is appointed Director of the Athens State Orchestra. His appointment will be for a period of three years.
Lukas Karytinos was born in Athens in 1952 and studied Music and Law at the Athens Conservatory and the University of Athens respectively. From 1976 to 1981, he continued his studies with a specialization in orchestral conducting at the University of the Arts in West Berlin under Herbert Allendorf, while simultaneously attending conducting seminars at the Mozarteum University Salzburg led by Otmar Suitner and Walter Weller.
From 1981 to 1985, he worked in Germany (Koblenz, Cologne, Berlin). During his time in Berlin, he served as artistic director of the "Piccolo Teatro Berolino". In 1985, he was appointed a regular conductor at the Greek National Opera (GNO), whose Music Director he became in 1992. From 1999 until 2005, he served as Artistic Director of the same institution.
The GNO's repertoire expanded significantly during his tenure. A total of 17 new operas and 4 operettas were added, covering repertoire from the Baroque, which he cultivated systematically (Orlando Furioso by Vivaldi, Alcina by Handel), through to the 20th century (Le Grand Macabre by Ligeti, Peter Grimes by Britten). He also continued and expanded the practice of co-productions/partnerships with theatres abroad, and started touring both in Greece and internationally. In parallel, in 2000/01, both the New Stage and the Children's Stage began staging productions at the Acropol Theatre, with a respective focus on Greek operettas and operas for children. Performances of opera for children were also introduced at the Herodeion in that same season. The Experimental Stage was inaugurated in 2003/4, and the Greek National Opera Higher Ballet School was founded in 2004/05. Throughout his tenure, he strove to convince the Greek State of the necessity of providing the Opera with new premises.
Lukas Karytinos has conducted every major orchestra in Greece on multiple occasions and performed at the festivals of Athens & Epidaurus, the Arena di Verona, the Caracalla in Rome, the Festival Puccini Torre del Lago, the Kulturforum Witten in Germany, Las Palmas, Antibes et al. He has collaborated as a conductor with symphony orchestras including the London Philharmonia, RSO-Berlin, Suisse Romande, WDR, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Philomusica Oxford, Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice and the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as with opera houses including the German Opera of Berlin, the Gran Teatre del Lice in Barcelona, the Teatro Ariaga Bilbao, and the operas of Cologne, Monte Carlo, Detroit, Rome, Catania, Cagliari, Modena, Livorno, Pisa, Bern, Salzburg et al.
He has worked with directors including P.L. Pizzi, G. Vick, G.C. del Monaco and H. De Ana, and collaborated with artists including G. Dimitrova, R. Bruson, M. Devia, J. Cura, D. Voigt, M. Guleghina, A.R. Antonacci, A. Rachvelishvili, L. Oropesa, K. Opolais, J. Starker and V. Tretjakov. Outside Greece, he has conducted in most of Europe as well as in Korea, the US, Australia, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere.
He has recorded for BMG, WEA, CBS, ETERNA and DYNAMIC. In addition to his vast symphonic repertoire, he also conducts over 70 operas. He has also conducted the world premières of three operas by Mikis Theodorakis: K. Karyotakis with the Greek National Opera directed by Sp. Evangelatos, Medea with the Bilbao opera, and Antigone an Athens Megaron Concert Hall production. He collaborated with M. Karydis on the Greek première of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito [The clemency of Titus), and conducted the Greek premières of Verdi's Il corsaro [The Corsair], Janáček's Jenůfa, and Massenet's Manon. The international critics count him among the finest interpreters of Italian opera.
The City of Athens awarded him its Gold Medal of Honour in 1989 for his "exceptional service" in the field of music. In 2001, he was awarded the "Dimitris Mitropoulos" prize by the Third Program of Greek state radio. In 2006, he was appointed by the P. Mascagni Foundation, which is based in Livorno, the composer's birthplace, to take charge of raising the profile of his oeuvre. His efforts culminated in a hugely successful grand tour with performances of Mascagni's opera Iris throughout Italy. The President of the Italian Republic bestowed on him the title of “Commendatore dell 'Ordine della Solidarieta' Italiana” for his contributions to promoting the work of P. Mascagni and to Italian opera in general around the world.
In 2008, the Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics awarded him its Great Music Award for his performances of La Traviata with the Thessaloniki Opera and Turandot with the Greek National Opera at the Herodeion as part of the Greek Festival , as well as for his overall contributions to opera. In 2010, the Society of Friends of the Greek National Opera awarded him its Apollo prize for his contributions to the GNO. In 2016, the Academy of Athens awarded him the Spyros Motsenigos Prize (for Music).
Today, in addition to his musical activities, Lukas Karytinos is the Director of the Athens State Orchestra and teaches Conducting at the Athens Conservatory.
#Stayhome April 3rd 2020
All of us in the Athens State Orchestra, we #StayHome, reliable to our regular weekly musical meeting.
This Friday, April 3rd at 14:00, instead of a concert, we present on our YouTube channel one of Manuel de Falla's most charming pieces:
“El sombrero de tres picos”, ballet, suites no 1 and 2
The Athens State Orchestra performs under the batton of his artistic director, Stefanos Tsialis.
Visit our YouTube channel on http://bit.ly/34uLJAA
#Stayhome
All of us in the Athens State Orchestra believe that complying with the mesures taken by the government and remaining at home, shouldn't deprive us of the usual, weekly musical meeting.
Thus, for the next weeks, every Friday, while we stay at home, we will be releasing on our YouTube channel a piece we've been loving. Starting from today, Friday 27th March at 14:00, with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's clarinet concerto in A major, interpreted by our internanionally aknowledged clarintetist, Spyros Mourikis, performing with the Athens State Orchestra under the batton of the legendary conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Visit our YouTube channel on http://bit.ly/34uLJAA
Postponing of events held by the Athens State Orchestra
The Athens State Orchestra, complying to the directions given by the Ministry of Health and in common with the cultural institutions with whom it collaborated, postpone the programmed events for the next days.
Specifically, the following concerts will not take place:
- 16.03.2020: Chamber Music Concert “Musical promenades at the Museums VIIΙ - In G…” in Parnassos Literary Society.
- 19.03.2020: Concert at Onassis Stegi.
- 24.03.2020: Concert "Heroes ΙΙ, The Athens State Orchestra and the Philharmonic Society of Corfu" at Megaron – the Athens Concert Hall.
- 28.03.2020: Chamber Music Concert " Musical promenades at the Museums IX - Works for flute and percussion" at the Acropolis Museum.
- 3/4/2020 at Megaron – the Athens Concert Hall.
- 6/4/2020 at Megaron – the Athens Concert Hall.
- 6/4/2020 at the Benaki Museum.
- 15/4/2020 at Megaron – the Athens Concert Hall.
For any other change affecting the programme of the Athens State Orchestra, there will be issued relevant information.
Auditors are kindly requested to contact the relevant Cultural Institutions to get a refund for their tickets.
The contact information are as follows:
Parnassos Literary Society: 210 3221917 - 3225310
Ticketservices: 210 7234567, www.ticketservices.gr
Onassis Stegi: 210 9005800, infotickets@onassis.org
The box office of Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall: 210 7282333, tickets@megaron.gr
The Acropolis Museum: 210 9000900, http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr
The Benaki Museum: 210 3671000, https://www.benaki.org
For further information auditors are kindly requested to contact the Athens State Orchestra at 210-7257601-3 or at info@koa.gr
Postponing of the concert "Breakthroughs and Pioneers IV - Beethoven: 250 years"
Understanding the general ambiance of concern and for absolutely preventive reasons, unfortunately we postpone the concert of the Athens State Orchestra that was scheduled for next Friday, 6th March 2020.
Auditors are kindly requested to contact the box office of Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall (210 7282333, tickets@megaron.gr) to get a refund for their tickets.
Vladimir Ashkenazi withdraws from the active concert action
Following Vladimir Ashkenazi's recent decision to withdraw from the active concert action, which has caused us feelings of sadness, emotion and respect, we announce his replacement by the internationally acknowledged Belarusian conductor Vyatcheslav Volich, first conductor of the Odessa National Academic Opera, who will be conducting the Athens State Orchestra during the concert in 28th of March 2020.
Auditors who wish to get a refund for their tickets, are kindly requested to contact the box office of Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall (210 7282333, tickets@megaron.gr).
Linus Roth soloist at Beethoven's violin concerto
Due to force majeure, the internationally acknowledged violinist Areti Zoula will not collaborate with the Athens State Orchestra at the concert 'Beethoven: 250 years', in 28th February 2020. The awarded violinist Linus Roth will be the soloist at Beethoven's violin concerto.
Finally, instead of the awarded piece for new Greek composer in 'Nikos Skalkottas' competition, the concert's programme include the Overture concertante from Nikos Skalkottas's Symphonic Suite No. 2.
Postponing of the concert "Musical promenades at the Museums III - America"
Due to a minor health issue, which affected one of the members of the Woodwind quintet of the Athens State Orchestra, we had to postpone the concert "Musical promenades at the Museums III - America", which was scheduled for December 16th at the B & M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts and Music.
We will inform you for the new date of the concert.
Audition for a Principal B' in Clarinets, December 2019
The Athens State Orchestra is proclaiming an audition in order to cover the position of a Principal B’ in the family of Clarinets (with obligation to both bass clarinet and first clarinet), for a six-month contract with the possibility of renewal.
This engagement complies with the regulations of the current Greek legislation
The audition will take place in the rehearsal hall of the Athens State Orchestra (Megaron – the Athens Concert Hall) on Thursday, December 12th, 2019 at 14:00 (a detailed program of the audition will be announced after the end of application submission).
Candidates will be examined in the following programme:
Clarinet:
a) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major K 622 (1st part without Cadenza)
b) Johannes Brahms: Clarinet Sonata no. 1, opus 120 (2nd movement)
c) Claude Debussy: 1st Rhapsody for Clarinet
Bass Clarinet:
a) Henri Rabaud: Solo de concours for bass clarinet, opus 10 (introduction and slow movement without finale-allegro)
They will also be examined in chosen excerpts from orchestral pieces, copies of which are available for the candidates at the administration offices of the Athens State Orchestra from Tuesday, November 26th, 2019. Orchestral excerpts are also available for download here.
The Committee maintains the right, also depending on the number of candidates, to hold the audition in two phases, in its own judgment.
Each candidate should provide his or her piano accompaniment. Applications, accompanied by a brief CV, must be submitted until Monday December 9th, 2019, either at the administration offices of the Athens State Orchestra (Vassilissis Sofias & Kokkali 1, 11521, Athens) or by email to the address (papostolidis@koa.gr).
You can download the application form (in Greek) here.