Santorini: The Megaro Gyzi Festival Returns

With an artistic program that allows everyone to enjoy top musicians performing renowned works from the global repertoire, the Megaro Gyzi Festival, a beloved institution embraced by the residents of Santorini and numerous visitors alike, returns this year after a five-year hiatus with four exceptional musical evenings.

As always, the festival will take place in the historic 17th-century mansion in Fira, from August 2nd to 13th, with free admission to all events, thanks to the unwavering support of the Catholic Diocese of Thira.

The festival will kick off on Friday, August 2nd, featuring the outstanding cellist, Artistic Director of the Festival di Maggio in Campania, Giuliano de Angelis, and the internationally acclaimed, award-winning pianist, Paolo Scafarella, performing works by Beethoven, Schumann, and Piazzolla.

On Tuesday, August 6th, two singers, permanent collaborators of the Greek National Opera, the distinguished soprano, a graduate of the prestigious Munich Music Academy, Anna Stylianaki, and the tenor, a graduate of Trinity College of Music in London, Philip Modinos, along with the unique pianist Dimitris Giakas, invite us to an Opera night titled “Puccini and His Era – 100 Years Since His Death”.

On Friday, August 9th, the festival will host on the stage of the Megaro Gyzi Cultural Center the exceptional Spanish trumpeter, professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Valencia, Dr. Vicente Campos, who will join forces with the internationally awarded pianist, professor at the Conservatorio Superior del Liceo de Barcelona, Michael Davidov Butusov, presenting a program with works by Haydn, Schubert, Chopin, Respighi, and more.

The concert that will bring the curtain down on this year’s festival, on Tuesday, August 13th, features the leading flutist of the Greek National Opera, Zacharias Tarpagkos, Anna Chifu, one of the most recognized and pioneering flutists of her generation, the cellist of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Christos Grimpas, and Valeria Charitidou on the piano. They will present a demanding yet lighthearted program for two flutes, cello, and piano, with works by Debussy, Gluck, Delibes, Doppler, Shocker, Cimarosa, Kuhlau, Bach, and Haydn.

Finally, in addition to the Megaro Gyzi Festival, on Sunday, August 25th at 20:00, as part of the 8th International Festival of Church Organ ANO, an event will be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Fira, featuring the ANO FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA, under the direction of Stefanos Tsialis, with cellist Strahl Tomasz as the soloist.