Berlioz’s, 'Fantastic Symphony'

Only about a few pieces one could implicitly say that they changed the flow of music. Among them, Berlioz’s “Fantastic Symphony” prevails as an unchangeable model of how free artistic inspiration creates new form perspectives. Its interpretation is signed by the internationally acknowledged conductor Giorgos Petrou, along with the premiere for Greece of the Julian Suite, composed by the always charming composer, Filippos Tsalahouris. Wolton’s sensational Concerto for viola is interpreted by one of the most distinguished viola soloists, Tatjana Masurenko.
19:45 Free introductory speech for ticket holders

Old and new values

The great pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja doesn’t need special references; each one of her appearances throughout the world is always a significant musical event. The Athens State Orchestra, with respect and pleasure, welcomes her as soloist in the “Parthenon” of piano concertos, Beethoven’s 4th. The Artistic Director of the Orchestra, Stefanos Tsialis, conducts Schubert’s famous “Unfinished” Symphony as well as the Images for orchestra, composed by the emblematic for the Greek vanguard composer, Nikos Skalkotas.
19:45 Free introductory speech for ticket holders

Man and Nature II

Glazunov and Tchaikovsky “depict” with the most intense and vivid timbres the Russian fall and winter respectively, giving prominence not only to the particular sensation of each season, but also to the way these inflame the full of passions Russian soul. These passions, denuded of any superficial embellishment, come to the foreground in the Schnittke’s powerful Concerto, which will be interpreted by the multi-awarded pianist Konstantinos Destounis, under the baton of Charles Olivieri-Munroe.
19:45 Free introductory speech for ticket holders

Italian soiree

The promising and active conductor Yorgos Balatsinos is leading an interesting musical tour in the enchanting Italy, in its history (Francesca da Rimini), its landscapes (Fontane di Roma) and, of course, its Music (Respighi, Martucci, Busoni), with the assistance of the acknowledged pianist, Francesco Nicolosi. Common characteristics of all the, more or less, familiar pieces of the concert are undeniably the romanticism, the passion and the melodiousness… in the Italian way.
19:45 Free introductory speech for ticket holders

Opening concert - Man and Nature - Mahler cycle V

The ambitious vision of the Athens State Orchestra to present to its audience the entire repertoire of the symphonic work of Mahler, keeps on being actualized this year. Thus, in the opening concert of the new artistic period, which at the same time inaugurates the cycle “Man and nature”, we will enjoy the Song of Earth, a piece which combines harmoniously the conceptional largeness of the symphony with the sober charm of the ancient Chinese poetry and the incisive directness of the human voice.
19:45 Free introductory speech for ticket holders

Play it Presto, Maestro! - Festival at the Sea

The entire history of the symphony orchestra in just one hour! An on-the-fly refresher course in how the largest and most magnificent musical schema the world has ever seen emerged and developed, both numerically and sonically. Texts and slides cover some 400 years of musical creativity, while extracts from representative works illustrate how the symphonic repertoire shaped the development and composition of the orchestra.

Works by:
Jean-Baptiste Lully
Antonio Vivaldi
Johann Sebastian Bach
Josef Haydn
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ludwig van Beethoven
Franz Schubert
Johannes Brahms
Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Gustav Mahler
Richard Strauss
Dmitri Shostakovich

Production and texts:

Iris Louka

Narrators:
Orestis Tziovas
Tasos Dimitropoulos


Musical promenades in museums, concert of Metallon quintet and Ines Zikou

For the International Archives day, celebrated in June 9th, the Historical Archives of the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation have seized the chance to organize, together with the Athens State Orchestra, a festive concert of the Brass Instrument and drums Quintet of A.S.O. “Metallon”, with the participation of the eminent mezzo soprano Ines Zikou. The program of the concert, very “relevant” to the spirit of the day, includes mostly pieces of great Greek musical archives.


Spyros Samaras, music for piano and songs - Hellenic Music Festivities

Within the program of the Hellenic Music Festivities of 2017, the distinguished musicians Maira Milolidaki and Titos Gouvelis will perform a program of pieces for piano and songs by Spyros Samaras, very characteristic for the art of the great composer from Corfu. It is worth mentioning that piano pieces of Samaras are “diamonds” of the Greek piano repertoire and are presented very rarely. Among them, there will be performed two works that were considered until very lately lost.


Clarinet Quintet - Hellenic Music Festivities 2017

Within the program of the Hellenic Music Festivities of 2017, the Athens String Quartet, one of the most dynamic Greek chamber music ensembles, join the distinguished clarinetist of the Athens State Orchestra, Spyros Mourikis, and perform a program of pieces for Quintet with clarinet created by eminent composers: Thodoros Antoniou, Philippos Tsalahouris (world premiere) and Boris Papandopulo (Greek premiere).


Martha Argerich - Theodosia Ntokou

Conducted by Stefanos Tsialis, the Athens State Orchestra will accompany Martha Argerich, a living legend of the piano and one of the leading music artists of the 20th and 21st century, in a magical evening at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. The celebrated pianist will be joined by her beloved student and rising star Theodosia Ntokou. French actress and Argerich’s daughter, Annie Dutoit, will act out the narrative interludes (with Greek subtitles). Dora Bakopoulou, a personal friend of Martha Argerich, will perform as special guest of the concert.

Special guest:
Dora Bakopoulou