The Athens Concert Hall, 20.30 hours.
Conducter: Yang-Yang (First prize at the International Contest 'Dimitris Mitropoulos 2006' for orchestra conductors.)
Soloist: Joachim Kjelsaas Kwetzinsky, piano
Programme:
Peer Gynt-Suite No. 1, op. 46
Concert for piano No. 1
Holberg suite, op. 40
Norwegian dances, op. 35 (first part)
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg (1843 -1907) is the most important Norwegian composer of the later 19th century, a period of growing national consciousness. As a child, he was encouraged by the violinist Ole Bull to study at the Leipzig Conservatory at his suggestion. His performances of Norwegian music, often with his wife, the singer Nina Hagerup, established him as a leading figure in the music of his own country, bringing subsequent collaboration in the theatre with Bjornson and with Ibsen. Edvard Grieg’s goal was to create a national form of music which could give the Norwegian people an identity and in this respect he was an inspiration to other composers.
But the greatness of his works lies not just in this, but in the fact that he also succeeded in expressing thoughts and emotions which could be recognized anywhere; music which people could identify with. His music transcended national boundaries. Viewed in this perspective, it is evident that he was far more than just a national composer.
The year 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Edvard Grieg.
Joachim Kjelsaas Kwetzinsky
Joachim Kjelsaas Kwetzinsky, born in 1978, has been predicted a brilliant career as a concert pianist. He is already active on the stage in Norway and abroad, performing as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist. In 2002 Kwetzinsky was a prizewinner in the Concours Grieg in Oslo, and in 2004 he was selected, as one of two, for Rikskonsertene’s three-year INTRO Classical programme. The selection committee praised in particular his "wellprofiled programme, his impressive overview and shaping of the musical material, and his virtuoso, unsentimental yet sensitive performance”.
The Orchestra of Colours
In its seventeen year of continuous creative activity, the Orchestra of Colours has grown into a high-quality symphonic ensemble. The flexible organization scheme of its administration and the high musicianship of it members guarantee a perfect artistic result. The Orchestra΄s appearances are always marked by inventive programmes, that include the classic as well as the avant-garde, and very often such works that have either been neglected or too ambitious to be performed i.e
The 85-member Orchestra of Colours gives most of its concerts in the Athens Concert Hall, but has also won accolades for some highly successful appearances abroad: in Budapest (Spring Festival), Lisbon (Expo ΄98), London (Royal Festival Hall), and, of course, every year at the international Athens Festival.
Seventeen years ago, on November 23th 1989, the Orchestra of Colours made its first appearance at the Pallas Theater in Athens. It was conducted by its founder, Manos Hadjidakis, in a program consisting of works by Vivaldi, Bach, Mozart and Brahms. In the following four-year period between November 1989 and June 1993, Manos Hadjidakis included in his programs many works by 20th century composers, which were unknown till that time in Greece: Copland, Menotti, Poulenc, Milhaud, Ohana, Hindemith, Nielsen, Ives, Britten, Thomson, Szymanowski, Kurt Weill, Piazzolla, Rota e.t.c. There was a strong presence, too, of greek music (Petrides, Varvoglis, Pallandios, Xenakis, Sicilianos, Mamangakis, Antoniou, Couroupos), including young composers as well (Anissegos, Kritsotakis). Special programs paid homage to Manolis Kalomiris, Nikos Skalkottas, Jani Christou and Mikis Theodorakis.