The City of Athens Symphony
Orchestra, headed by maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis, was founded in
1996 and has since played a major role in Greece's cultural scene. Throughout
the years, the Symphony Orchestra has managed to remain in the forefront of
musical activities both in Greece
and abroad.
In 2003, the Symphony Orchestra and the City of Athens Music Ensembles formed an independent organisation.
Its rich repertoire includes the most important works of the world's great classical music composers, ranging from baroque music masterpieces to pioneering compositions of contemporary artists. The City of Athens Symphony Orchestra has interpreted significant works by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Debussy, Mahler and Stravinsky. It has also interpreted major international operas in collaboration with distinguished soloists. These include Nabucco, Aida, Verdi's Forza del Destino, The Flying Dutchman, Tanhauser, Siegfried and Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries.
The orchestra's primary goal is the development and promotion of Greek music. In this context, the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra has interpreted a multitude of works by leading Greek composers such as Nikos Skalkottas, Yiannis Konstantinidis, Menelaos Pallandios, Manolis Kalomiris, Antiochos Evangelatos, Mikis Theodorakis and Theodoros Antoniou. Additionally, it has performed numerous compositions by Manos Hadjidakis, Stavros Xarchakos, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Yiannis Markopoulos, Mimis Plessas, Christos Leondis and Ilias Andriopoulos at venues throughout the country.
In response to the contemporary demands of music lovers, the orchestra has inaugurated a
series of regular public appearances, both in Greece and abroad, with great
success. Concerts are held at the Athens Municipal Theatre in Agios Sostis, the
Athens Concert Hall, the Greek National Opera, the Katia Dandoulaki theatre and
Ilissia Theatre during the winter season, while the Attiko Woods, Roman Agora
and the National Gardens host the orchestra in summer
months.
The City of Athens Symphony Orchestra has performed in key venues abroad, promoting Greece's rich cultural heritage and the infinite talent of its musicians. Its international appearances include concerts in New York, Washington, Chicago, Brussels, Cairo and Istanbul and Bodrum, while the orchestra has been invited to appear in Berlin and at Ephesus (the largest ancient theatre). The City of Athens Symphony Orchestra has also undertaken noteworthy collaborations with the Athens and Thessaloniki Concert Halls, involving film screenings accompanied by music. The Symphony Orchestra works closely with the Greek Composers Union, presenting the first performances of works by Greek composers. It staged the first panhellenic performance of French composer Erik Satie's drama Sokrates, in cooperation with the University of Athens, at the Herod Atticus theatre. The orchestra performed in Nikos Skalkottas' ballet The Maiden and Death and Manolis Kalomiris' Symphony No. 1 together with five Greek choirs. It also participates in educational institute concerts and high school music workshops, while also collaborating closely with the University of Athens, the National Technical University of Athens and tertiary institutions abroad.
Also, the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra has produced a wide variety of music compilations with major artists including: Athens Symphony Orchestra (Round Dances from the Four Corners of Hellas), G. Bregovich (Balkan), Paschalis (Timeless and Beloved), Zerbinos (The Sound of Time), Plessas (50 Years of Mimis Plessas at Athens Concert Hall) and Vicky Moscholiou (Live from Lycabettus), in addition to albums featuring well-known classic melodies spanning all musical periods such as "En chordais kai Odais allalaxomen" (C. Hubert H. Parry - L.V. Beethoven - N. Skalkottas) and Bouquet of Classical Roses (Mussorgsky - Tchaikovsky - List - Handel - Strauss - Prokovief).
More recently, the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra presented the first panhellenic performance of works by Skalkottas. The orchestra performed arias by Verdi, Puccini and Bellini together with internationally-renowned soprano Dimitra Theodosiou at Pnyx Hill in a tribute to the 30 years since the death of Maria Callas, under the direction of Nikos Athineos. The orchestra also accompanied Andrea Bocelli in his benefit concert for victims of the August 2007 fires. Loukas Karytinos led the orchestra in a concert featuring piano soloist Aris Garoufalis at the Athens Concert Hall. The orchestra has staged performances throughout Athens and in Argos. http://www.cityofathens.gr/en/arts-culture/municipal-cultural-organisations/music-ensembles/symphony-orchestra
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