Once in a Lifetime
The legendary band will perform for the first time in one of the world’s most beautiful stadiums, the Panathenaic Stadium, the place where the modern Olympic Games revived in 1896 and where every year ends the authentic Marathon race of Athens.
The soiree’s title, “Once in a Lifetime” is not accidental, since the choice of this unique venue isn’t the only surprise! The Athens State Orchestra will open the concert, presenting with symphonic sound for the first time in Greece, some of the greatest hits of the famous rock band. For the first time also, we will have the opportunity to listen to 2 of Scorpions' most famous songs with the participation of a children's choir.
The soiree’s title, “Once in a Lifetime” is not accidental, since the choice of this unique venue isn’t the only surprise! The Athens State Orchestra will open the concert, presenting with symphonic sound for the first time in Greece, some of the greatest hits of the famous rock band. For the first time also, we will have the opportunity to listen to 2 of Scorpions' most famous songs with the participation of a children's choir.
Mikis Theodorakis with Maria Farantouri’s voice
The great performer has sealed with her incomparable voice the struggle for democracy and freedom; her artistic journey has always been indissociably bound with Mikis Theodorakis’s music. The rich symphonic sound along with the deeply lyric and epic character of the great Greek composer releases the musical power of words in Lorca’s, Elyti’s, Seferi’s and Sikelianos’s poetry. One of Greece’s most acknowledged choruses, the one of the Public Power Corporation - Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, participates in the “March of the Spirit”.
Charlie Chaplin’s “The Gold Rush”
Charlie Chaplin’s multidimensional artistic personality, beyond film direction and acting, included music as well. Thus, the 1925’s classic masterpiece’s soundtrack was created much later, in 1942, by Chaplin himself with the assistance of the American film score composer Max Terr and professional orchestrators. The projection of the movie “The Gold Rush”, with live musical accompaniment, offers a unique experience of esthetic delight.
Orchestration: Timothy Brock
Musical promenades at the Museums XII - Death and the Maiden
The Athens String Quartet, one of the most active Greek ensembles of chamber music, interprets in the Numismatic Museum Beethoven’s dramatic fourth string quartet, the last in time from the six string quartets op. 18, as well as Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden”, a metaphysically charged composition which has been proven magnificent and remains very popular ever since its very first performance.
Free entrance
Musical promenades at the Museums IX - Zero and infinity
The Quartet for the End of Time, written by Olivier Messiaen in 1940-41 under conditions of detention in a concentration camp, is one of the most emblematic pieces of the 20th century. According to the composer, the motivational force which leads man from the abyss of incarceration to the liberation of the spirit is nothing but faith and hope. Through this prism, Messiaen’s piece is accompanied by texts excerpted from Elias Venezis’s shocking detention chronicle “The number 31328” and from the Apocalypse, verses of which were a source of inspiration for the Quartet.
Musical promenades at the Museums VIII - Music for violin and cello
The combination of violin with cello in chamber music isn’t the most usual. But it’s not unusual either. Even though most composers ignored this combination, some of them not only were involved in it, they even gave prominence, through masterpieces, to the multiple capabilities and timbres of these two string instruments. Through a connection of central Europe’s tradition with Kodaly’s western writing, Martinu’s lyric melodies which defy gravity, Skalkottas’s particularly personal and groundbreaking style and the incomparable beauty of Ravel’s French temperament, these four composers make us travel in the most difficult period of the 20th century, before and after the two world wars, and remind us that Art not only survives, but flourishes even during the hardest times.
19:30 Free guided tour to the Museum
Musical promenades at the Museums VII - Twelve (12)
“12” is the acoustic print of the months, with starting point images and snapshots that characterize each one of them. It is unfolded through minimalistic forms and repeated patterns using the earthly timbres of piano, horn, strings, guitaristic harpisms and tympani, balancing between the landscapes of cinematographic music and the electronic texture of the experimental music. Recorded in July 2015, it is the third of four discs created by the awarded composer and songwriter Nefeli Liouta.
At 18:30, one hour prior to the concert, a guided tour will be offered to the audience.
Musical promenades at the Museums VI - American music of the 20th and 21st century for trombone and piano
In the beginning of the 20th century, American trombonists seek a repertoire and new compositions, in order to give prominence to their instrument. “Paganini of the trombone” was the denomination given to Arthur Pryor, who evolved the technique of the instrument in such a level that he’s considered a milestone for brass instruments worldwide. This concert will enrich you with images, sensations, even surprises from that significant era, since the pieces we have chosen are composed by trombonists for… trombonists!
19:30 Free guided tour to the Museum
Concert of Metallon Quintet in Cephalonia
The always active Metallon Quintet of the Athens State Orchestra presents a programme with music of Theodorakis, Hatzidakis, Lavragas, Samaras, Carrer and Labelet.
Works of Theodorakis, Hatzidakis, Lavragas, Samaras, Carrer and Labelet
Musical promenades at the Museums V - Light Music
Very often, behind the term “light music”, real diamonds are hidden; it is probably an arbitrary assumption that music written (also) for entertainment purposes, lacks value and quality. Let’s discover that through the light but, at the same time, interesting musical choices of our musicians!
Works by G. Gershwin, Russian composers and representatives of 'Country Music'.