70 years of Faidros Kavallaris

Two evenings in mid-November will celebrate the life and music of well-known Cypriot composer Faidros Kavallaris, who turns 70 this year. Following the suggestion of some of the composer’s friends, Faidros will present the world premiere of his musical work Exochrono of Sappho – a musical and poetic journey for daring and venturesome musicians.

Presented on November 17 at Nicosia’s Municipal Theatre and on November 19 at Markideion Theatre Paphos, the project concerns a work that has already been published in an elegant volume containing the composite hand-written score and a 32-page book with a complete explanation, analysis and ways of performance of the work.

Exochrono of Sappho, written in 2014-2015, was inspired by the poetry of Archaic Greek poet Sappho – like other works by the composer in the past – as well as by a survived fragment by Greek philosopher Heraklitos. In essence, the work is a diptych for one or two pianists with the ancient percussion instrument seistron and other performers incorporating recitations of Sappho’s poetry. And that is exactly what is on the agenda for the two evenings.

“In this work,” commented organisers, “Faidros Kavallaris sums up and incorporates musical aspects and compositional approaches that have occupied him from time to time in the past. In other words, ideas, processes and practices that have already been used and characterise some of his previous works are applied simultaneously both to the composition itself as well as to its musical realisation.”

The work will have its world premiere by two internationally esteemed young pianists who will come to Cyprus from Germany: Danae and Kiveli Dörken. They will be accompanied by other participants with seistra, percussion and various Cypriot idiophones, Sappho’s poems, creating a special performance of high artistic level, a particular and unique music event for Cyprus, with the two grand pianos and the other instruments and participants on stage.

 

70 years of Faidros Kavallaris

Concert with two pianists from Germany, poetry recitations and other participants. Celebrating the 70th anniversary of Cypriot composer Faidros Kavallaris. November 17. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. November 19. Markideion Theatre, Paphos. 8.30pm. €12. https://www.soldoutticketbox.com/  Tel: 99-553174

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