In its fourth year of operation the Thessaloniki Concert Hall is sailing into 2004 flaunting a programme both challenging and entertaining. Thus proving, beyond any doubt, that the 1997 European Cultural Capital is a vibrant city that never rests when it comes to things cultural.
Stars, tango and opera
Italian diva Milva takes the lead in Astor Piazolla’s tango opera Maria De Buenos Aires (April 3-4) where tango meets classical music’s tradition, justifying Piazolla’s belief that, "tango has always been for the ear, rather than the feet." On a more conventional operatic note, a Greek production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro , featuring the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, is also scheduled (April 21).
While dance and opera productions traditionally attract the most interest from Greek audiences, selling more tickets overall than recitals or symphonic and chamber music events, the arrival of the Orchestra Filarmonica Della Scalla is sure to challenge those statistics. Who would refuse a night with Riccardo Muti, the legendary conductor who has the extraordinary ability, as the Financial Times once noted, to “make an orchestra surpass itself”? Muti will lead the orchestra in two nights of Vacchi, Verdi and Brahms (March 15) and Ligeti, Bartok and Dvorak (March 16).
A touch of Greek spice
Greek music events constitute naturally a favourite option amongst locals and it seems that composer Nikos Kypourgos is often under the spotlight. This time, his Kipotheatro (or Garden Theatre) performs an anthology of songs and orchestral pieces from the body of his work composed for the theatre and cinema. Vocalists Maria Farantouri , Alkinoos Ioannidis , Savina Yannatou and Lizeta Kalimeri join him on stage (February 7 and 8).
Yannatou also appears in the Greek Song series (March 20) alongside renowned Cretan singer Loudovikos ton Anogion in a night set to explore the lyrical song tradition through the sounds of lute, oud, mandolin, nay and, of course, Cretan lyre.
For their part, the En Chordais (In Chords) musical ensemble seek to find the meeting point between classical Eastern and Mediterranean musical traditions, in a programme featuring also virtuosos from Lebanon , Turkey and Iran playing quanun, nay, tabur, setar and zarb (January 31).
Easter psalms, piano sensations
In tune with the spirit of Greek-Orthodox Easter celebrations, the Thessaloniki concert hall hosts Hymns and Laments of the Holy Week. Byzantine and post-Byzantine psalms as well as “grieving” songs from the Greek folk tradition will be performed by Thracian folk song patriarch Chronis Aidonidis , Lebanese singer Ghada Sbeir, accompanied by ensembles En Chordais and Masters of the Art of Chanting (March 28).
Elsewhere, “Piandemonium” will erupt on stage during the 2nd International Piano Festival. Six pianos, 12 pianists and 24 hands join forces (on February 16) to tackle eight compositions, including Erik Satie’s comic suite La belle excentrique and Albert Lavignac’s Gallop marche (for up to eight hands on a single piano!).
Renowned pianist and conductor Christian Zacharias joins Marie Louise Hinrichs (February 25) in a night of Brahms , Schubert and Mozart, while French sister duo Katia and Marielle Labeque will interpret Maurice Ravel’s Ma mere l’ oye and Leonard Bernstein’s Suite from the West Side Story, re-orchestrated by England-born Greek-Serbian pianist and composer Dave Maric (February 29).
Musical tales for children
Sunday mornings have traditionally been reserved for family activity and for the concert hall its a good time to stage educational events. The Thessaloniki Musicians series brings the northern city’s much-loved pianist Domna Evnouchidou to the stage to introduce young ears to the sounds of Beethoven’s piano sonatas (January 28).
For the ultimate in kids’ fun, the puppet theatre comes to town (on February 15) with Nicolo Jommelli’s L’Uccellatrice, a fun story weaving myth and magic, about confident Don Narciso on his quest to seduce, who comes across a lady much cleverer than himself. For its part, the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra with Alkis Baltas at the podium, follows (on March 7) with a programme of two fairytales: Ravel’s Mother Goose and Rimsky-Korsakov’s imaginative Scheherazade.
