Sunday, March 9, 2014

Onassis Foundation | RETHINK ATHENS

Distinguished Greek artists will take part in musical concerts
to the Arsakeio Arcade

Renaissance ritual inspired by the "Commedia dell Arte"

Mina Polychronou, soprano
Nikos Spanatis, countertenor

Twin Flames:
Vassiliki Kousouni, acrobatic dancer, juggler
Antonios Pasvantis, acrobatic dancer, juggler
DEVA Performing Arts

Dimitris Kountouras, flute
Effi Minakoulis, lute - theorbo



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PΡΟΓΡΑΜ

Irishtune “Lilliburlero”

Claudio Monteverdi “Damigella tutta bella”

Girolamo Frescobaldi “Se l’aura spira”

John Dowland “Can she excuse my wrongs”

Irishtune “The Washerwoman”

Giulio Caccini “Al fonte al prato”

Giulio Caccini “Odi Euterpe”

Sigismondo D'India “Alla guerra d’amore” 

Mina Polychronou, soprano

She studied advanced music theory(harmony,counterpoint,fugue) and voice at the Athens Conservatory.She hold a Fellowship in Vocal Performance from the London College of Music.She continued her studies in Milan with C. Castellani and Maria-Luisa Cioni(Alexander S. Onassis Scholarship) and in Vienna with Sena Jurinac and Ileana Cotrubas. She has performed leading roles at the GNO (Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro, Zauberflote,  Die entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Un ballo in maschera, La boheme, The masterbuilder, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La serva padrona, Gianni Schicchi, Carmen, Traviata) and  classical and contemporary works at the Athens Concert Hall, Athens and Epidaurus Festival and Opera of Thessaloniki. She has worked with all Greek symphonic orchestras under leading Greek and foreign conductors, and she has received prizes at international competitions.

Antonis Pasvantis, acrobatic dancer, zogler

Antonis Pasvantis (DEVA) is a diverse artist who spans in many fields of the arts.He mix circus arts with theater and dance. Hestudied in the circus school 'Espai de circ' in Valencia , the circus space Katakomben in  Berlin and in the experimental theater school S.Mou.Th. ( Musical Theatre Workshop ) of Larissa. For 10 years now he is traveling and studying different techniques, discovering the unlimitless beauty of human expression .He is teaching aerial acrobatics on silks and trapeze in his private studio Twin Flames in Athens. He has collaborated with the National Theatre of Greece in the play ' Stage Walkers '2011, taken part in the theater REX for the show Mata Harry in 2012 and in the musical CASABLANCA in 2010 ,we was participating at the rock opera 'Dragon' in 2014 at Melina Merkouri theater and in many other showcases. He has participated in many international festivals around the world such as Puppet Fairy in Sofia with his work 'Comedia' / The 31st session of the nation in Nanjing ( China) with HELIX street theater group with the project ' Prometheus Bound '/ Flaming Nights (Czech Republic) with the firedance performance 'Dark Angel' / European Juggling Convention in Toulouse (France) with the firedance performance 'Dark Angel' / 1st ,2nd and 5th International Street Theater Festival in Athens with his works ' The Flame' , 'Journey of man' , 'Dark Angel' and as well in many other international festivals with many big theatrical groups.

Dimitris Kountouras, flute

He specializes on early flutes and recorders  and on historical performance practice from Medieval to Baroque. He directs the early music ensemble Ex Silentio and performs with the Duo Goliardi, the ensemble Labyrinth Wien and the Camerata of Athens. He performed in many venues and festivals in Europe and in Asia. he has recorded for Talanton, for Carpe Diem and for Arkys and as orchestra musician in baroque  opera productions for MDG and DECCA. He studied recorder, traverso and early music in Utrecht, in Milan, in Vienna and in Trossingen and holds a PhD on historical musicology. he is researching the relation ships between music and renaissance humanism and is active as a writer of essays and articles on these matters.

Effi Minakoulis, lute - theorbo

Effi Minakoulis was born in Athens. She studied French Literature, classical guitar and classical singing and completed her studies with distinction and first prize. With a scholarship from the British Council and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama she furthered her studies at the Early Music Department of the Guildhall School, studying renaissance lute, theorbo, and singing with some of the foremost professionals of the Early Music scene. As a member of various renaissance and baroque groups she has performed in all major venues in Greece and abroad and has collaborated with artists such as Michael Chance, Nancy Argenta, His Majesties Sagbutts and Cornets and Eric van Nevel. In December 2004 she participated in a recording of 17th century vocal and instrumental music with the ensemble Sinfonia in collaboration with the American College of Greece. As a lute player she has collaborated with most Greek Orchestras and has participated in many performances of Baroque Operas such as  L’Incoronazione di Poppea” – “Il Ballo dell’ Ingrate” (C. Monteverdi), “Euridice” (J. Peri), “Xerxe” (G.F. Handel), Orlando Furioso (A. Vivaldi) and Alcina (G.F. Handel). She has also participated in the performance and the first worldwide recordings of Handel’s “Oreste” with “Camerata Stuttgart” and “Arianna in Creta” “Tamerlano” and  “Giulio Cesare” with the Patras Orchestra for the German company MDG , the CD “Nativita di Christo” containing Italian 17th century music and the CD Lovely Echoes with medieval and 21st century music. As a singer she is active in the Early Music scene promoting the vocal music of the 16th and 17th centuries. She has also collaborated with the Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens and the Orchestra of the American College of Athens in the performance of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Magnificat, A. Vivaldi’ s  Gloria,  and W. A. Mozart’s Requiem. She has collaborated with Megaron Moussikis in the presentation of Sunday Morning Concerts. She teaches at the Music Department of the American College of Greece, Deree College.