William Tell is a semi-legendary Swiss hero who lived in the early 14th century and is remembered for his defiance against tyranny. His story became a canon of literary works and a theme of Gioacchino Rossini’s last opera composed for Parisians in 1829. The spectacular and illustrative overture to the piece is often performed on its own, being one of the most beloved symphonic miniatures.
After retiring from his operatic life, Rossini composed, among other works, a playful piano cycle titled Péchés de vieillesse (‘Sins of Old Age’). It is these compositions contained there that served as the canvass for the ballet La Boutique fantasque staged (1919) in London and choreographed by Léonide Massine. The colourful orchestration was done by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, who later arranged the ballet music. In the era of aesthetic transformations at the beginning of the 20th century, Respighi remained faithful to the neo-Romantic musical language.
Mikis Theodorakis, deceased in 2021 and an icon of contemporary Greek music (also a politician and human rights activist, imprisoned during the dictatorship of the so-called ‘black colonels’), studied music in Paris (including with Olivier Messiaen) and composed ambitious concert works, yet it was his film music, especially Zorba the Greek, that brought him worldwide fame. That was directed by Michael Cacoyannis in 1964 featuring the unforgettable title role by Anthony Quinn. Particularly popular was the sirtáki dance theretofore associated with Greek folk music, although… it was not present there at all (however, it had its prototypes) – it was invented and developed for the film shot. As Zorba is singing, the dance becomes abundant in numerous stunning and today somehow unrecognised motifs that will be of memory, owing to an interesting concert suite to come.
The carnival concert will be conducted by the Athens-based young flutist Stathis Karapanos, who is an internationally well-known and active conductor. He is a musician with versatile interests, also reaching out to ethnic and unconventional flute varieties. Karapanos is an esteemed soloist and chamber musician who premiered with his new performances, and the suite on show with its exposed flute part is a novel arrangement of Theodorakis’ music produced by Karapanos (at his initiative) together with Achilleas Wastor.
The organiser reserves the right to change the programme or the performers of the concert