Greek-Canadian Composer Panagiotis Karousos at the RCM

A Portrait of the Renowned Greek-Canadian 

Composer Panagiotis Karousos

“UNESCO awarded composer Panagiotis Karousos comes to London for an exclusive concert”

Tuesday 23rd of June 2016 

Drinks from 6:30pm, for 7:00pm concert start

Parry Rooms, Royal College of Music, 

Prince Consort Rd, London, SW7 2BS

Presentation: Aida Dellal Hersham 

Coordination: Caitlin McConnell

Production: Fawley Court Concert Hall  

Fawley Court presents composer Panagiotis Karousos 

at The Royal College of Music            

Performers:

Irene Konsta, soprano - Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Monika Dhamo, violin - Mirela Ruci, cello 

Victoria - Fjoralba Kiazimi, piano

Program:

Piano Trio No. 2

Liederabend (first part) English poets

Queen Elizabeth I: Written on a Wall at Woodstock

Dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

William Shakespeare: sonnet 109

Percy Bysshe Shelley: Ozymandias

Lord Byron: Maid of Athens

Romance for Violin and Piano

Divertimento for Cello and Piano

Liederabend (second part)

Rachel Bluwstein: To My Country

Guillaume Apollinaire: Automne

Johann W. Goethe: Nachtgedanken "Night Thoughts"

Jorge Luis Borges: Son los ríos

Alphonse de Lamartine: La Harpe des Cantiques

Piano Trio No.1 "D'amour"

Aria of Prometheus from the opera “Prometheus Bound”

Aria of Deianira from the opera “The Olympic Flame”

Duet from the opera “Olympic Flame”

Panagiotis Karousos is a renowned Greek-Canadian composer who brings to his music the philosophy and spiritualism of the Greek classics. He did many concerts in Canada and USA with his Symphony No.1 “Liberty”, and Symphony No.2 “Olympic” with Astoria Symphony, the FACE Symphony Orchestra, the OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra and the Monteregie Symphony Orchestra under the direction of maestros Silas Nathaniel Huff, Andre Gauthier, Theodora Stathopoulos and Luc Chaput. The Piano Concerto was presented with pianist Nathalie Joncas under UNESCO auspices in the Montreal Popular Concerts series in Montreal’s Maurice Richard Arena to an audience of 5000 people. The Olympic Flame choir was presented with the Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of Gunst wat'n Kunst at Hague, Holland, with R. Pylarinos. The opera Alexander the Great presented at the Montreal Notre Dame Basilica, in Chicago Illinois conducted by David Stech, in North Carolina Theatre with maestro Grant Gilman, and in Toronto at Cultural Center of Toronto with the Sneak Peak Symphony Orchestra of Toronto University and soloists conducted by Victor Cheng. The opera Prometheus represented in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC. From 2013 he did major presentations of Prometheus in Ancient Greek Theaters (Epidaurus, Messina, Ancient Agora), and the National Archeological Museum In 2014 Prometheus presented with bass Vasilis Asimakopoulos at United Nations in New York under the auspices of UNESCO. His Symphony No.4 “Earth” premiered with City of Athens Symphony Orchestra with maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis. His Liederabend and chamber music was presented in Berlin with pianist Theodosia Ntokou, soprano Irene Konsta and musicians from Berliner Camerata in 2015. In 2016 he presented the opera Olympic Flame at Lincoln Center in New York with soloists and orchestra under the direction of Jestin Pieper, and Prometheus Bound at La Sorbonne University in Paris with soloists from the National Opera of Greece. His style is based on bel-canto with emphasis on dramatic expression. Romantic emotion characterizes his compositions in the tradition of the great melodists.

Irene Konsta, soprano

Irene Konsta was born in Athens,Greece. She studied classical singing and graduated in 2004 from the class of the World-famous bass George Pappas winning First prize and the Golden Award of exceptional performance. She has attended vocal seminars of G. Dimitrova, M. Caballe, L. Serra, R. Knoll and A. Christofellis in Greece and abroad. She has been collaborating with the Greek National Opera since 2008. Her repertory includes Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte-Mozart), Nedda (I Pagliacci-Leoncavallo), Desdemona (Otello-Verdi), Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus-Strauss), Zerpina (La serva padrona-Pergolesi) and more. She performed the John Rutter’s Requiem with the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens under the direction of Eleftherios Kalkanis. In the summer of 2013 she sang the role of Io in P. Karousos ''Prometheus Bound'' in the small theatre of Ancient Epidavrus, in Ancient Theatre of Messina and in the National Archaeological Museum of Greece. Irene Konsta performed the role of Deianira in P. Karousos opera “Olympic Flame”, at the Old Parliament House of Greece. In March 2014 performed the role of Io in P. Karousos opera “Prometheus Bound” in New York and impressed audiences. She honoured with the Maria Callas Award from UNESCO.

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Vasilis Asimakopoulos studied classical singing with Professor Athanasia Bezouli and got his degree with distinction and first prize. He has participated in international choral competitions in Greece and abroad (Preveza, Valencia etc) winning first prizes and medals with the «Ambitus Choir» among others. He is an active member of the musical group «Pocket Opera» where has starred in various roles as a soloist. He has performed the roles of Ocean and Zeus in the opera "Prometheus" by P. Karousos and took the leading role of Prometheus in places like the ancient theater "Little Epidaurus", the ancient theater of Messina, the National Archeological Museum in Athens, and sung the main arias in “Parnassos” Concert Hall under the direction of E. Kalkanis. He has performed the role of Pope Julius II in the opera "The Michelangelo in Rome" by Philip Tsalachouris. It is a member of the Greek Theatre "AIXMI" under the direction of G. Nikolaidis where he performed the role of Haemon in Sophocles' play Antigone and involved each year with productions of Ancient Tragedies in numerous festivals throughout Greece. He has collaborated with the National Opera of Greece in various productions (Nabucco, Faust, Il Trovatore, Sicilian Vespers). He has participated in the Masterclass Jeanette Pilou, at the Lilian Voudouri Hall of the Library of the Athens Concert Hall. He has also taken part as an active member of the Cheryl Studer Masterclass. In 2014 performed the leading role in the opera “Prometheus Bound” by P. Karousos in New York and in the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan. The composer dedicated the opera Prometheus to his great talent. He took the Maria Callas Award 2014 from UNESCO. He sang Fauré’s Requiem and in Bizet’s Carmen with the Symphony Orchestra of Athens conducted by Eleftherios Kalkanis. He also performed as a soloist in many productions in the National Opera of Greece. 

Victoria - Fjoralba Kiazimi, piano 

She studied at the Conservatory of Athens with professor and Head of the Piano Department, Mrs. Dora Bakopoulos, whereby she received her diploma with the unanimous grade “Excellent” and received the first prize. She has successfully participated in several national piano competitions and has received first prizes and highly commended. Together with her solo and chamber music recitals, she accompanies singers and she has collaborated as a soloist with Athens State Orchestra and Orchestra of the Philharmonic Society of Corfu. In addition, she has participated in several Music Festivals around Greece and she has performed for European Piano Teachers Association (EPTA – Greece). In 2012 she was chosen to be the representative of Greece in the prestigious First International Youth Congress & Festival “Great Silk Way” in Baku, Azerbaijan and in 2013 was invited to perform two recitals at the National Music Festival in Japan. Future plans include solo and chamber music concerts around Greece. Apart from her musical studies, Victoria is a senior accompanist and teaches piano in well-known conservatories in Athens.

Mirela Ruci, cello

Mirela Ruci was born in Fier. By the age of 7 she started to study cello at the artistic school “Jakov Xoxa” in Fier. After completing the music high school, she continues studying cello at the Academy of Arts in Tirana and she was graduated with excellent results. In the mean time she returns back to her hometown where she worked as a cello teacher and participated in almost all the artistic activities of the Symphonic Orchestra of Fier. She participates in the festival of the Symphonic Orchestras of Albania where she plays solo and many other artistic activities with in the country. In the 1997 she comes to Greece and in the 1998 she wins a position as the principal cellist in the Municipal Orchestra of Athens and a central participant in the string quartet of Athens. Currently she is a cello professor in different music schools in Athens.

Monika Dhamo, violin

Monika Dhamo (Damo) was born in Albania and graduated in the Academy of Arts in Tirana. Her diploma was given in 1989 with the maximal grade. She also graduated from the Greek Conservatory in the viola class with the maximal grade. She was a member of the Albanian Radio TV Orchestra, where she performed Mozart’s Concerto for Violin, and a member of the Orchestra of the Colours e.c. Now she is a member of the Athens Symphony Orchestra, and a participant in the String Quartet of Athens. She performed the “String Quartet” by Panagiotis Karousos with the String Quartet of Athens at Greek Radio Television and in a concert of works by P. Karousos under the direction of maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis broadcasted at the Greek National Radio Program ERT.

Royal College of Music

The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Art including performance, composition, conducting, music theory and history. The RCM also undertakes research, with particular strengths in performance practice and performance science. The college is one of the four conservatories of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and a member of Conservatoires UK. Its buildings are directly opposite the Royal Albert Hall on Prince Consort Road, next to Imperial College and among the museums and cultural centres of Albertopolis. President of the RCM is Charles, HRH The Prince of Wales. Chairman of the RCM is Robert Winston and Director of the RCM is Colin Lawson. (RCM, wiki)

Fawley Court 

BUILT IN 1684, FAWLEY COURT BEARS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF THE GENIUS SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN, THE ARCHITECT OF ST PAUL'S CATHEDRAL AND HAMPTON COURT.

Fawley Court has the last word in luxurious exclusivity. James Wyatt, the architect of five cathedrals and two palaces, designed a number of rooms of equally exquisite elegance. This creativity was not limited to the house alone, between 1764 and 1766 the grounds were dramatically landscaped by renowned landscaped architect 'Capability' Brown. Today, as a private estate, art defines the rooms. 

EVERY SUMMER, HENLEY PLAYS HOST TO WORLD CLASS ATHLETE ROWERS RACING ON A MILE LONG STRAIGHT STRETCH OF THE RIVER THAMES. The Henley Regatta is the oldest in the world, dating back to 1839, and the only rowing event to be under the patronage of HM The Queen. The rowing race takes place on the only straight mile stretch on the River Thames. An umpire notes the halfway time and bellows "At Fawley!" as the crews pass the midpoint at Fawley Court. Next to the private Estate, amidst an enchanting forest, lies a contrasting large Concert Hall. The striking Grade II listed space doubles up as concert, theatre or an airy lecture room. Phenomenal acoustics lend the space to a plethora of opportunities for its 350 seated audience. IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROLLS-ROYCE MOTOR CARS. OUR GUESTS WILL BE CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN ON THE ESTATE TO THE FAWLEY RIVER CLUB, OFFERING A VIP EXPERIENCE IN NEW LUXURIOUS ROLLS-ROYCE VEHICLES. FURTHER MORE, AN EXCLUSIVE BOAT SERVICE WILL TAKE OUR GUESTS ON A TOUR OF THE RIVER.  A TRULY SPLENDID WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE HENLEY REGATTA. 

www.fawleycourt.com