July 6, 1957
DIMITRIS CHORAFAS: (From a music review by Minos Dounias): «The Athenian public has embraced Dimitris Chorafas as a beloved son and distinguished conductor who has made a name for himself abroad. His presence at the helm of the State Orchestra provided us with the joy of change. The program was tangible proof of the existence of a new spirit. Bizet’s symphony is not, of course, among the masterpieces of its genre, but is suitable for lighthearted outdoor musical evenings. The next piece of music provided a major contrast. Petros Petridis’s ‘Byzantine Sacrifice’ took us into the esoteric world of polyphony. This lovely Greek composition had soul and depth. The success of the performance of this piece was due to the truly inspired interpretation of Dimitris Chorafas… As I watched the performance, I thought that since Dimitris Mitropoulos, most Greek conductors have been characterized by a nervous delivery. When Clemenz Kraus conducted here a few years ago, his movements were invisible to the audience yet the orchestra was transformed into the Vienna Philharmonic…»
