Two composers meet in Moscow
An important execution of the music of Mikis Theodorakis and Dimitris Arapis is immortalized in «Gala Russia – Greece,» a newly released collector’s album by Kastaniotis editions. In the album, «Carnival,» a ballet suite composed by Theodorakis meets the international premiere of «A Story of the Sea,» composed by Dimitris Arapis and performed by the Russian State Symphony Orchestra, directed by Valeri Polyansky. The concert was held last March at the National Concert Hall of Moscow and coincided with an exhibition on the work of well-known Greek painters. According to Arapis, «the concert was an historical moment of art and communication, a moment in which worlds meet in order to respectfully express their hopes, thoughts, joy and pain.» The Moscow concert reunites two Greek artists who first met in Russia in 1995. Theodorakis spoke about this symbolic get-together. «I pass the baton to the younger Dimitris Arapis, an artist involved with a difficult genre of music. I hope that the indifference toward symphonic music subsides and that this kind of music becomes more accessible to the broader public.» During the presentation of the collector’s album, Theodorakis shared with the public his memories from his trips to Russia and spoke of the influence that Russian composers have had on his work. He placed particular emphasis on Dmitri Shostakovich. In the album, an introduction speaks of the relationship of the famous Greek composer with Russia and the history behind the «Carnaval,» which Theodorakis wrote while in exile in 1947. The album is illustrated by works of the artists Alina Matsa, Pavlos Samios and Pericles Goulakos. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the album will be given to SOS Children’s Villages Greece.
