– The most unique and intimate classical music summer festival in Europe, according to The Sunday Times. Also this summer, Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival in Crete presents an impressive program of international artists. Festival organizer Gunnar Strømsholm welcomes you to six wonderful days filled with music from June 23 to 28.
In a very short time the Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival has become one of the leading cultural events, not only on the island of Crete, but in all of Greece. The festival presents some of the world's top artists.
The six day programme includes works by more than 40 composers ranging from Purcell, Beethoven, Liszt, Hadjidakis to Sleeper. This year the festival brings together 21 internationally acclaimed artists from France, FYROM, Germany, Greece, Spain and of course from Norway.
See the 2011 programme of Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival here.
Three of the Norwegian artists have performed at the festival also previous years. Mezzosoprano Hege Høisæter (far right at photo above) is on her third year at the festival. She is an experienced concert singer and has worked with major orchestras and conductors. After some years of freelancing, in 2002 she became one of the house soloists at The Norwegian Opera. See Høisæter perform June 25 and 28.
Recognized as one of today's leading vocal coaches and concert accompanists, John Lidal (number three from the right at photo above) continues his work worldwide as a pianist, coach, and mentor for professional singers. This is the third time Lidal performs at Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival. See him June 25 and 27.
Fourth time performer at the festival is the soprano Isa Katharina Gericke (far left at photo above). As a soloist, Isa has performed with The Oslo Philharmonic, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Tsjeck Philharmonic and The Stavanger Symfonic Orchestra. Gericke performs June 26, 27 and 28.
– My hobby became a music festival
Festival organiser Gunnar Strømsholm is also running The White Houses in Crete. The houses can be rented for Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival.The festival is organised by Norwegian Gunnar Strømsholm. He was astonished by Crete on his first visit in 1979 and is equally amazed by the island even today. He started dreaming of his own Mediterranean garden. Now he is the organizer of a classical festival arranged in his own villa - Casa dei Mezzo and in the old Venetian "Villa de Mezzo"(Etia) as well as in the Harbour of Makrigialos. The festival has been running since 2004.
– My hobby became a music festival. I am striving to put the great artists out there at the international market. Especially, it means a lot to me to introduce Norwegian classical artists and music to our audience, he says.The Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival is a registered not-for-profit company aiming to introduce classical music and musicians to the island of Crete and its visitors.
– Our audiences are growing year by year with visitors coming from as far away as Australia and the US as well as the rest of Europe, says Strømsholm.
Some concerts will be recorded and broadcasted through the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The Norwegian newspaper VG Nett has also noticed the festival. See their article on Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival here.
Tickets can be purchased at The White Houses – Makrigialos Harbour, MaCreteland Tours – Re/max Professionals and Villea Village.
Price: 10 euro pr. concert.
Operatic Gala Concert 28 June: 15 euro
Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival is supported by The Norwegian Embassy and The Norwegian Institute at Athens.