The 42nd International Music Festival of Santorini

After two years of silence due to the covid pandemic, “The Friends of Santorini” Cultural Association is again joining the distinguished audience under the artistic direction, as always, of the pianist Athena Capodistria and present in this year’s Festival, 5 concerts as a kaleidoscope of 5 different musical genre, this time at Ftelos Brewery, in Karterados.

For this restart of the festival, a number of exceptional artists of the international musical world (some of whom have left unforgettable impressions from previous appearances) are invited, as well as prominent personalities of the International and Greek music scene that will appear for the first time in Santorini.

On Friday, September 2nd, the opening concert, by the prominent Japanese pianist Etsuko Hirose who has already been highly acclaimed on the International musical stage, will take place. Etsuko comes from Paris, to fascinate us with her interpretations of a highly interesting and demanding programme, including Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro” transcribed by Czerny, Wagner’s “Isolde’s Death” transcribed by Liszt, the famous Chaconne by J.S. Bach on Busoni’s transcription, two virtuoso pieces by Moszkowski and Alkan, and at the end two most popular compositions by Chopin, the Polonaise op.53 Nr 6 and the Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante op.22

The second concert on Sunday, September 4th, is a tribute to our ancestors who kept our tradition alive during the years of slavery, to those who fought for our national regeneration for the freedom and independence of Greece, in the revolution of 1821, but also to those foreign philhellenes who inspired by Greece, joined us, helped and fought with us in this struggle. To all of them, we are dedicating works by Rossini, Verdi, Ravel, Samaras, Carrer, Valtetsiotis, Spathis, and Skalkottas which will be interpreted by two superb voices, protagonists of the Greek National Opera House, the soprano Maria Mitsopoulou, and the tenor Yannis Kalyvas, accompanied by the distinguished pianist Karolos Zouganelis especially invited from Paris.

Two shining stars of the younger generation of the international music world will be the guests of the third concert on Tuesday, September 6th. After the great success, he scored in the last Festival in 2019 and on public request, the excellent pianist Vassilis Varvaresos will be again with us, this time accompanied by the highly talented and price-winning Greek-Japanese violinist Noé Inui they will interpret two monumental sonatas for violin and piano milestones of the chamber music repertoire. The Sonata “Kreutzer» op.47 Nr 9 by Beethoven and the Sonata in A maj. by Franck.

On Friday, September 9th, ARBOS TRIO from Madrid, the leading chamber music group of Spain, and at the same time one of the world’s most famous ensembles of its kind, will grace our stage with a unique programme. The evening will start from the heights of classicism with Beethoven’s Trio op.70 Nr 1 and then will take us to the burning emotional world of the Spanish flamenco that we are certain will captivate our audience.

The festival will close on Wednesday, September 14th, in a completely different atmosphere with the eminent performer of Greek Jazz, the pianist George Kontrafouris. This time, companions in the paths of jazz improvisations will be two outstanding musicians, the French bass player Olivier Gatto and the excellent Greek jazz drummer Thanos Hatzianagnostou. This atmosphere of optimism and uplifting joy, will bring us to the end of a musical marathon race, an exciting artistic journey that started in 1979. With more than 300 concerts presented throughout 42 summers, this festival gave great soul satisfaction and uplifting spirits to thousands of music lovers, permanent residents and visitors, and has established Santorini as a centre of musical and artistic expression.

SANTORINI INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Tel.: 210 7242 373 – 6981 790317 – 6978 388958
Santorini: Tel.: (22860) 23 166
www.santorinimusicfestival.gr / E-mail: santorinifestival2010@yahoo.gr
General Admission: 25 euros
Ticket Reservation: Dakoutros Travel Agency / Tel.: 22860 22958