While last week the social agenda was packed with film screenings, this week attentions turn to the world of music.
From tomorrow prominent Greek composer, lyricist and singer Dionysis Savvopoulos presents a series of concerts in Nicosia entitled Concert of Candles. The concerts promise to be a unique musical experience bringing together one of Greece’s greatest musicians of the 20th century and the musical group VARyAVLOS III, which consists of the young professional musicians, Evangelos Christodoulou, Neoclis Neofytidis and Vassilis Priovolos.
Popular in Greece and Cyprus, his music is well-known and recognised abroad too; everywhere; amongst the Greek Diaspora. Noted as a political activist, he was imprisoned by the Greek military junta during its reign in 1967. Like Mikis Theodorakis, Savopoulos is an icon and a symbol of hope and resistance during a difficult period in Greek history.
His albums from this period Fortigo, To Perivoli Tou Trelou, Ballos and Vromiko Psomi are considered his best work. The album Vromiko Psomi in particular is a fusion of traditional Greek with Zappa-Jethro Tull electric rock. He travelled a lot and composed music for theater (Epidaurus) and cinema. His music has remained popular throughout his recording career and was the musical director of the closing ceremony of the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
As a songwriter, he has played a significant role by creating an alternative and creative new approach to the era of contemporary music. Through his poetic lyrics and his musical pursuit, he has exercised a great influence on the contemporary and subsequent songwriters by transferring and mixing national, Balkan and western sounds, always in a personal and unique way.
A total of three performances will take place at Castelliotissa Hall, a medieval site, and most of the musical instruments that will be used belong to that same era, such as the piano, bassoon, flutes, etc., with the main objective of bringing these sounds closer to the general public, while the space will be almost exclusively lit with candles, adding an air of nostalgia and whimsy.
Savvopoulos has given his all for these concerts performance from its inception to its completion. All rehearsals took place under his personal supervision and he is especially pleased to showcase for the very first time this effort to local audiences. He will be present at all three performances, and he will “present” his work through an entirely different approach, revealing a new unknown side of Savvopoulos.
The show will be divided into two parts, the first part Savvorama will include but is not limited to the most popular works by Savopoulos, while the second part, Musical Dialogues will be dedicated to works by Manos Hadjidakis, Ástor Pantaleón Piazzolla, Nino Rota, etc.
It’s also worth noting that all the art and promotional literature created was chosen by Savvopoulos himself following a competition between the students of the School of Higher Education of Fine and Applied Arts Aegean.
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Concert of Candles
Prominent Greek composer, lyricist and singer Dionysis Savvopoulos presents a different musical performance together with the musical group VARyAVLOS III. January 27-29. Castelliotissa Hall, Agios Maronas Street, Paphos Gate, Old Nicosia. 8.30pm except Sunday at 6.30pm. €25. Tel: 22-800970/70-008242while winds and strings
