Mahler Cycle X
Twenty-seven years have passed since the Athens State Orchestra performed the historic Greek première of the Symphony of a Thousand at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. Now, Greece's two premier musical institutions are to join forces once again in a true musical ‘extravaganza’ to mark the completion of our Mahler Cycle. And it has to be said that Mahler's Eight Symphony contains elements that are a good deal more impressive than the host of musicians on stage. Most impressive of all is the music’s blazing hymn to Eros, which it approaches as a driving force of life, as Man's only "salvation", as the essence of our communication with God.
Musical promenades at the Museums XI - Beethoven’s Septet
If you believe that Beethoven’s revolutionary spirit was only evident after a certain point in his career, then it is worth listening to his Septet, a work which became famous from the very first and remains so today. Despite its lightness, which can feel like a serenade, Beethoven's genius finds a way to experiment with its forms and timbres, to develop its ideas, and to create a sound world of unparalleled beauty.
Easter concert – Beethoven: 250 years
In Beethoven’s humanistic world, there is no separating faith in God from faith in Man. The struggle with the concept of the divine, the agonizing dominance of doubt and a redemptive return to a renewed and sincere faith are a few of the driving forces which shape the development of the moving religious drama that unfolds in the Missa Solemnis. This unique and lengthy masterpiece from Beethoven’s late period is conducted by the inspired German maestro Christoph Poppen.
19:45, free introductory speech by Nikos Laaris for ticket holders
Musical promenades at the Museums - Connections
Great art can address the 'hardest’, 'deepest’ things in a very simple way... One of the sacred minimalist’s most emblematic works, Arvo Pärt's Fratres provides an ideal preface to two momentous 20th-century quartets. Shostakovich and Schnittke exploited the full capabilities of the string quartet, the finest chamber music ensemble, creating an atmospheric music which, veering between pitch darkness and the blindingly bright, always retains an authentic spirituality.
Romantic innovations
During his recent appearances in Athens, the German conductor Frank Beerman impressed with the freshness of his musical vision and the precision of his interpretations. These same qualities are sure to guarantee a scintillating reading of Bruckner's Romantic Symphony, the composer's most accessible symphony. The pianist Nikos Kyriosoglou will be putting the formidable technical abilities for which he is renowned at the service of his performance of Franz Liszt's Second Concerto, a work which combines thunderous outbursts with an ethereal lyricism.
Musical promenades at the Museums IX - Works for flute and percussion
One has to admit that this is one of the season’s most interesting concert proposals! No one who enjoys unfamiliar sounds and discovering rarely-played repertoire should miss this concert. Two... adventurous Greek musicians, Makis Ramos (flute) and Andreas Farmakis (percussion), perform contemporary works written for these two very different instruments, providing us with a unique opportunity to acquaint ourselves with leading composers from the contemporary avant-garde.
Beethoven: 250 years 28-03-2020
Vladimir Ashkenazi's recent decision to withdraw from the active concert action, has been known to the world's audience with sadness and emotion. The active Belarusian conductor Vyatcheslav Volich, first conductor of the Odessa National Academic Opera will be standing at the podium of the Athens State Orchestra during this concert. He will be conducting Dvorak's famous New World Symphony and collaborating in Beethoven's Violin Concerto no. 1 with the talented Fil (Triantafyllos) Liotis, who has already embarked on a glittering international career.
Heroes II - The Athens State Orchestra and the Philharmonic Society of Corfu
The Athens State Orchestra is delighted to collaborate with the Philharmonic Society of Corfu. A venerable and important musical institution, the Philharmonic Society of Corfu has been driving musical advancement on Corfu for 180 years now. Within the Philharmonic Society of Corfu, many generations of distinguished Musicians have been initiated in Music, whose abilities eventually shined within our nation's symphonic ensembles. The Philharmonic Society of Corfu and the Athens State Orchestra offer up a rich and far from stereotypical programme of works in tune with the spirit of Greek Independence Day, March 25.
Georgios Balatsinos conducts the Athens State Orchestra
Concert at Onassis Stegi
These three Greek premieres take orchestral sound in completely unexpected directions. Instrumental timbres drawn from the deep wells of musical time – Antiquity, Byzantium, and the Renaissance – characterize works by Kalliope Tsoupaki and Dimitrios Skyllas. Chaya Czernowin’s exceptional mastery, on the other hand, is evident in the sensations she engenders from the creation of a unique acoustical space.
Musical promenades at the Museums VIIΙ - In G…
We cannot hope to familiarize ourselves more fully with the great composers and their more ‘personal’ musical moments without a knowledge of their chamber works. Traditionally, it is here that composers feel free to try out new ideas and dare to experiment with the innovations that will later find appear into their large-scale symphonic works. This is certainly true of both these extraordinary quintets, which provide unique insights into Dvořák and Prokofiev’s richly phantasmagoric worlds.