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PRESS RELEASE

7^th Saronic Chamber Music Festival

1^st-9^th August 2017

Galatas - Spetses - Hydra - Poros – Kythira - Methana

 “Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.”

―Plato

The Saronic Chamber Music Festival, now receiving international attention, returns for its 7th year offering up another enthralling summer for music lovers, with concerts in Galatas, Spetses, Hydra, Poros, Kythira, and, for the first time, at the Methana volcano at the Open Amphitheater of Kameni Chora.

Once again, the Leondari Ensemble will be joined by world-class guest musicians who will perform on these beautiful islands from the 1^st to the 9^th of August 2017. They will present seven concerts of exceptional quality – that will include great works of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Schumann, Beethoven and Debussy – to a fast-growing, eclectic audience of local residents and international tourists in intimate settings that befit this very intimate kind of music.

A highlight of the programme will be performances of Bach’s ‘Goldberg Variations’ in an arrangement for string trio by the great Russian violinist, Dmitry Sitkovetsky. This beautiful arrangement is inspired by Glenn Gould’s legendary recording of 1981, one of the most popular classical recordings of all time. On the 6^th of August in Hydra it is paired with the equally mythic ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ by Beethoven. Watch out also for performances of Schumann’s Piano Quintet in Eb major led by the wonderful Finnish violinist, Sini Simonen.

This year the Festival will present well-known, well-loved faces and some extraordinary young talent who come for the first time: the Finnish violinist, Sini Simonen, one of Europe’s most acclaimed chamber musicians and member of Esbjerg Ensemble (Norway), the Castalian String Quartet and the Calvino Piano Trio; the Canadian-American violinist Maia Cabeza, 1st prize “Mozart prize” winner of the 2013  Leopold Mozart International Violin Competition and member of the Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Orchestra Academy between 2012-2014; Μanuel Hofer, who has recently been appointed Principal Viola of Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra; Martin Leo Schmidt, an ex-student of Heinrich Schiff’s prestigious class in Vienna and who has performed with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra.

The international Saronic Chamber Music Festival is organised by the Leondari Ensemble: a group of friends and musical partners from all over the world who meet annually in the inspirational environs of the Saronic Islands to explore the music that they love and to perform for an audience they are passionate to play for. The 2017 Saronic Chamber Music Festival is made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Athens and receives the full backing of the municipalities of Hydra, Spetses, Poros, Trizinias-Methana and Kythira. The Hydra series is also sponsored by Mr Hercules Kontos in memory of his wife, Therese Kontos, a lover of music.

A few words about the artists of the Leondari Ensemble:

Τhe Leondari Ensemble is comprised of musicians from Europe, North America and Australia who perform regularly with many of the world’s most renowned ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, ARC Ensemble, the English Chamber Orchestra and the Vienna Piano Trio.

A note on the Leondari members at the 2017 Festival:

Τhe pianist Caspar Frantz was appointed professor in 2016  at the faculty of the HMT “Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy” in Leipzig. He has performed in major European concert houses and has made numerous recordings which have been highly acclaimed by the German national and international press. The cellist Julian Arp was appointed professor at the University for Arts in Graz in 2013 and leads an active performing life as a soloist and chamber musician. He has also recorded three albums which have all gained praise and international acclaim.

The Saronic Chamber Music Festival and the Leondari Ensemble were both founded by Greek violinist, Jannis Agraniotis, and Australian violist, Francis Kefford. Jannis currently collaborates with Athens Camerata (Friends of Music Orchestra) and has worked with the Greek National Opera and the Athens State Orchestra. He has appeared in all of the major Greek concert halls as well as in Germany as a recitalist and chamber musician. Francis is a frequent performer with the UK’s leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Aurora Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra.

Read all artists' biographies at: www.saronicfestival.com/artists

FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Open Amphitheatre of Kameni Chora | 01 Aug | 21:00

‘Goldberg Variations’, BWV 988    J. S. Bach

Galatas School | 02 Aug | 21:00

Sonata for Cello and Piano (1915)    Debussy

Sonata for Violin and Piano, 'Kreutzer'    Beethoven

Piano Quintet in Eb major, Op. 44    Schumann

Syggrou Amphitheatre, Poros | 03 Aug | 21:00

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2    Brahms

String Quintet in G minor, K. 516    Mozart

Kapodistrian Hall, Spetses | 04 Aug | 21:00

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2    Brahms 

String Quintet in G minor, K. 516    Mozart

Bratsera Hotel, Hydra | 05 Aug | 21:00

Sonata for Cello and Piano (1915)    Debussy

String Quartet in A minor, Op. 51 No. 2    Brahms

Piano Quintet in Eb major, Op. 44    Schumann

Bratsera Hotel, Hydra | 06 Aug | 21:00

Sonata for Violin and Piano, 'Kreutzer'    Beethoven

‘Goldberg Variations’, BWV 988    J. S. Bach

Zeidoros Artspace, Kythera | 09 Aug | 21:00

The 'Goldberg Variations', BWV 988    J. S. Bach

String Quintet in G minor, K. 516    Mozart

INFORMATION

TICKETS

FULL FESTIVAL PASS : 50 Euro (premium)

HYDRA / SPETSES : 10 euro  (standard), 20 euro (premium)

POROS / KYTHIRA/ METHANA: 10 euro (standard)

GALATAS :  entry by donation.

Children: free entrance at all concerts.

Book your tickets in advance and get the special discounted festival passes at: www.saronicfestival.com/book-tickets

General info:  www.saronicfestival.com

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