Nafplion Festival set to showcase classical, jazz
One of the highlights of Greece’s music scene, the Nafplion Festival, is about to kick off for the 14th consecutive year. Under the guidance of its artistic director, acclaimed pianist Yiannis Vakarelis, this year’s festival promises a panorama of classical music, but also touches of jazz. Concerts start tomorrow and will run to July 3. As always, they will take place at different venues around the city. The Camerata Friends of Music Orchestra will mark the festival’s opening tomorrow. Under the baton of Marzio Conti and joined by violinists Giorgos Demertzis and Simos Papanas and harpsichordist Markellos Chryssikopoulos, the orchestra will interpret works by Samuel Barber, Bach, Corelli and Tchaikovsky at Palamidi Castle. Also at Palamidi Castle, violinist Dmitri Sitkovetsky and pianist Pavel Gililov will pay tribute to Austrian violinist and composer Fritz Kreisler on Saturday, while France’s Ysaye Strings Quartet will perform works by Brahms joined by pianist Jean-Francois Heisser on Sunday and compositions by Haydn, Schumann and Mozart along with pianist Maurizio Moretti on June 27, at the same venue. Greece’s Kelsos Ensemble will play Renaissance music at Vouleftiko on June 28, while Tokyo’s Hinokiya drum group will perform traditional Japanese percussion music on June 29, at Arvanitias Square. On June 30, the Amadeus Ensemble along with pianist Korina Samourkassidou will interpret compositions by Mozart and Bach at Aghios Georgios Square and on July 1, the Athens Municipality Big Band, led by Thanassis Zervas, will engage in a journey from classical to jazz music in Syntagma Square. The festival will continue with pianists Ferhan and Ferzan Onder, who will perform works by Rachmaninov, Liszt, Schubert, Borodin, Say and Balakirew in Aghios Georgios Square on July 2 and will end with the Athens Municipality Symphony Orchestra and Choir on July 3. Under the direction of Nikos Christodoulou and joined by soprano Dimitra Theodossiou, flutist Giovanni Roselli and narrator Alexis Kostalas, the orchestra will play works by Verdi, Rossini and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy at the Bourji Castle. Performances start at 9 p.m. every night. Tickets can be purchased at the offices of Nafplion Municipality (tel 27520.23332/ 24874), the Philippos Nakas music store in Athens (210.364.7111), and the Formix concert company (210.924.5323/924.5303). For further information, log on to www.nafplionfestival.gr.
