Athens Concert Hall pays homage to a composer’s 50 years of varied work
Yiannis Markopoulos’s notable 50-year career – which has often expanded traditional Greek themes into loftier, more ambitious and epic works – will be celebrated at the Athens Concert Hall over three nights next week as part of the venue’s Bridges series. Over the three nights, the composer, whose work has earned him both domestic and international acclaim, will present song cycles as well as material written during the country’s dictatorship years between 1967 and 1974. The repertoires will vary from night to night, as will the participating performers. Markopoulos will conduct his works «Ithageneia,» «Thiteia,» «Metanastes,» «Chroniko,» «Who Pays the Ferryman,» «Concerto For Lyra,» and «Epi Skinis.» A host of vocalists – including Lakis Halkias, Manolis Lidakis, Alkinoos Ioannidis, Lizetta Kalimeri, Sophia Papazoglou, Vassiliki Lavina, and Kouli Theodorou – will contribute over the three-night event. Also participating will be the Athens Municipality Symphony Orchestra and Choir, the Palintonos Armonia Orchestra, the vocal ensemble En Fonais, and lyra player Zacharias Spyridakis. From early in his career, Markopoulos took a highly personal path in Greek music by advocating, with particular emphasis, a back-to-the-roots musical philosophy through his own work. His approach proved influential on other artistic disciplines here. January 18, 20 and 21. Athens Concert Hall, 1 Kokkali & Vas. Sofias, tel 210.728.2333.
