Romeo + Juliet x 6
Four hundred years on from the death of William Shakespeare, the most famous lovers of all time, Romeo and Juliet, remain forever young! The tale of their love has inspired all manner of wonderful musical compositions down the centuries, six fragments of which will be performed in this concert entitled “Romeo + Juliet x 6” from the Athens State Orchestra and the Athens Megaron Concert Hall.
Works for violin and piano
The violin and the piano, though very different instruments in terms of their construction and the way in which they are played, have always been the most compatible of musical companions. Indeed, their every encounter can be relied upon to set the musical sparks flying! This evening’s programme includes well-known works, but also delves into less frequented corners of the vast piano and violin repertoire, covering a chronologically broad range, too, from 18th-century classicism to the 20th century.
Free guided tour in the Museum.
Centenary of the foundation of the Union of Greek Ship owners
In honour of the traditionally flourishing Greek maritime sector, the Athens State Orchestra is joining in the celebrations to mark the centenary of the Union of Greek Shipowners, performing well-known works by Greek composers. While Skalkottas and Constantinides capture the spirit of the mariners who have been venturing out to sea for millennia, the ubiquitous theme from Mikis Theodorakis’ Zorba recalls the Greek lust for life.
Moscow
The Slovenian conductor Uroš Lajovic’s recent appearances with the Athens State Orchestra have made his return to the Greek capital a highly-anticipated event. The soloist in Shostakovich’s vibrant and youthful Second Piano Concerto: the up-and-coming pianist, Theodosia Dokou. The concerto is framed by symphonic works by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev which were inspired by two of Shakespeare’s immortal masterpieces: The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. The transcendent beauty of Shakespeare’s language is transformed into a music awash with passion and intensity.
Free introductory talk for ticket holders
Mariinsky Theatre Opera Gala
Saint Petersberg’s historic Mariinsky Theatre has been one of the world’s most prominent lyric theatres since its foundation. A selection of its finest performers will be singing extracts from famous operas under the direction of one of the Theatre’s regular conductors, the American maestro, Gavriel Heine, confirming once again the power and sensibility of Russian voices.
WE PRODUCTION
Composers as refugees
The refugee issue is topical yet again, affecting all our lives to a greater or lesser extent. The Athens State Orchestra seeks in its own way to raise our awareness of the sheer magnitude of the problem in this performance of three magnificent 20th-century symphonic works under the baton of the Estonian conductor, Mihkel Kütson. All three were written by composers who were forced to cut themselves off from their homes, but who managed to retain their creativity undiminished and write truly great works.
Free introductory talk for ticket holders
A happy coincidence
Leonidas Kavakos is a musician who needs no introduction. Having established himself as one of the world’s top violinist, he has for several years been extending his activities into conducting—a move which has met with considerable success. In this, his first concert on the podium of the Athens State Orchestra, he will be conducting exceptional symphonies by Schumann and Mozart respectively along with the latter’s Fifth Violin Concerto. May this concert mark the start of a long and fruitful collaboration.
Leipzig
The first regular concert of the season at the Athens Megaron Concert Hall is also the first concert in this year’s main thematic cycle, “Cities of Music”. Each of the concerts in the cycle will feature a programme which relates to a given musical centre in ways ranging from the obvious to the somewhat obscure. Our first stop is Leipzig, the birthplace of Wagner and the city in which Schumann spent much of his life and Beethoven’s nine symphonies were first played as a complete cycle in 1825-26.
Free introductory talk for ticket holders
BUIKA, the Daughter of Fire
Buika, the Daughter of Fire, on Tuesday, September 20 for a unique concert at Herodium.
She will be accompanied by the Athens State Orchestra, and three of her own musicians (guitar, bass and cajón). The internationally renowned maestro Toni Cuenca, awarded by the Academy of Music and Festival for his symphonic work, will direct the concert. Toni Cuenca has collaborated with Paco de Lucia, Miguel Rios and Jorge Pardo, the Istanbul Opera Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of Sofia and Barcelona.
