I wish to thank all composers involved in the first part of this project, which will be continued with the addition of composers from other Mediterranean countries. I am honoured by their collaboration and trust. Each one narrates his/her personal story in an individual and unique way, inspired by the Mediterranean Sea. Also, I would like to thank those who supported this event: the Greek Ministry of Culture for funding it, the Greek Composers' Union, the host institutions, organizations and venues, as well as the media sponsors and journalists who promoted it. Last but not least, my heartfelt appreciation goes to all composers on this programme!

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These miniatures represent the creators' short personal stories and narratives, in the form of short piano pieces. The musical colours, the fleeting rhythm and the continuous flow from one work to the other are linked together in a metaphysical way, providing an overarching story. The symbolic value of the Mediterranean is the grand narrative, in which all pieces are mutually complementing. Hoping that the music will speak directly to the listener's soul, I wish that you enjoy the performance!

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More information: 

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PROGRAMA

 

• Aspasia Nasopoulou (b. 1972) Olinda (Hidden City 2012) 

• Elli Zacharopoulou (b.1959) Aurora (2019) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou

• Minas Borboudakis (b.1974) Allegorie (2003)

• Phillipos Tsalachouris (b.1969) Topia op.66 nr 1/Ι First performance in Spain

• Constantine Caravassilis (b.1979) Between the silence (2019) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou-First performance in Spain

• Carla Rebora (b.1973) COREOGRAFIE per pianoforte (2002) nr.3

• Stathis Gyftakis (b.1967) Silent Landscapes for Erato op.110 nr.1 (2021) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou - First performance in Spain

• Nicola Elias Rigato (b.1991) Collapse (2020) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou- First performance in Spain

• Stathis Gyftakis (b.1967) Il ragazzino e il cuoco Josephin ....(2003)- First performance in Spain

• Maria Christina Krithara (b.1954): Mediterranean (2019) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou- First performance in Spain

• Stathis Gyftakis (b.1967) Silent Landscapes for Erato op.110 nr.2 (2021) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou- First performance in Spain

• Nicola Elias Rigato (b.1991) Wonder Drowns (2021) World Premiere- Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou

• Schachar Regev (b.1992): Grotto (2019) Piano miniature (2019) World Premiere- Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou 

• Benet Casablancas (b.1956) 3 Haikus (secunda collection 2013)

• Stoyannides Konstantinos (b.1976) Blue (2019) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou- First performance in Spain

• Füsun Köksal İncirlioğlu (b.1973): Fleuron - First performance in Spain

• Sofia Kamayianni (b.1971) The mirror (2007) "The mirror" from the 5 miniatures for solo piano/ miniature nr. 3

• Stathis Gyftakis (b.1967) Silent Landscapes for Erato op.110 nr.3 (2021) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou

• Francisco Monteiro(b.1959) Parafrasi del fando "Tive um coração perdi-o"(2020) Dedicated to Erato Alakiozidou

• Anastasis Phillipakopoulos (b. 1969) Piano Piece (2018)- First performance in Spain

• Calliope Tsoupaki (b. 1963) Lasting Sounds of a Deep Sea (1988)- First performance in Spain 

 

 

Erato Alakiozidou​

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The sheer intensity of this chamber version [of In Memoriam] is utterly gripping, and the combination of the young Greek pianist Erato Alakiozidou and the Lutosławski Quartet is electrifying. They treat the music with reverence, certainly, but they are also not afraid to mould it, to take it and make its very personal pain their own...This is a recording of extraordinary quality.

” Light Over Darkness” Editor’s choice –Gramophone magazine –January 2018

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The pianist is actively involved in contemporary music. The last 20 years she has taken a special interest in the study and promote of works by 20th & 21st century Greek composers.

Distinguished contemporary composers have dedicated some of their works to her and she performed their world premieres. She is frequently ventures out to innovative projects, contemporary music, artistic research, and pedagogic projects. She is interested in every aspect of the arts that can be creatively combined with piano performance. She has received excellent critiques for her entire presence in the artistic domain awarded from the Greek Union of Greek Reviewers for Theatre and Music.

Erato Alakiozidou performs extensively in Europe in important concert halls and festivals wresting always very good reviews. She has recorded for the Greek and Bulgarian state radio & television and for the German southwest broadcasting corporation. She is a founder member of many ensembles, and festivals and of the nonprofit organization “beArtive”.

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Studied piano at the State Conservatory of Greece with E. Papazoglou receiving a Soloist Diploma with the highest distinction. She continued her studies under internationally acclaimed Bulgarian pedagogues Konstantin and Julia Ganevi, (former students of Heinrich Neuhaus), and with Lilly Boyadjieva  in Paris from where she received her «Diplome Superieure du piano» with the highest distinction and a first prize.

She furthered her studies in piano performance for many years, in the class of the great virtuoso, Brazilian pianist Roberto Szidon, (student of Ilona Kabos, Claudio Arrau and Arthur Rubinstein), as a private student. She has also been studied among others with Lazar Berman, Carla Ciudici, Alfredo Speranza, Margaret Newman. In addition, under scholarship, she completed her advanced theory studies, obtaining diplomas in Harmony, Counterpoint, Orchestration and Fugue. One of her mentors for many years has been the distinguished pianist, conductor and composer Nikos Astrinidis whose works she often performs.

She lives and works in Greece. (State Conservatory of Thessaloniki- IRC & Head of Department accompaniment/Athens Conservatoire). Since 2020 she was appointed Artistic Director of Pylaia-Hortiatis Municipal Conservatory. She is the founder and the Artistic Director of the International Music Workshop Festival “Music Diaries”.
She is regularly invited by many musical associations as a jury to competitions or to give master classes in Europe.

She has recorded for Subways music, Ankh productions & Protasis productions. 
Last few years she records exclusively for the American label Odradek Records.

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Discography

2017| In blue and white- Greek Composers Solo piano Works 21rst century- Odradek Records

2017| Light Over Darkness – Lutoslawsky Quartet- Odradek Records Works of A. Schnittke & G. Kancheli

2010| “90th birthday anniversary-Nikos Astrinidis” Subways music (2010-SM101) (one of the best recordings in 2010 from the Union of Greek Reviewers for Theatre and Music)

2007| “Somebody is talking to tango” ankh productions (2007-c 2202-2) works of Astor Piazzolla based on poems of J.L. Borges

2003| “Tangos a Cuatro” Protasis Productions (2003-PR 1058-2) works of Astor Piazzolla

2002 | “Echosynkyria” recordings in rare CD-R of numbered copies by the Photography museum of Thessaloniki -Works of Greek Composers (live recording)

2001 | “Echosynkyria” recordings in rare CD-R of numbered copies by the Photography museum of Thessaloniki -Works of Greek Composers (live recording)

 

More info about the pianist you can find in the following webpage 
https://eratoalakiozidou.com/