Iannis Xenakis: Oresteia - Aeschylus Suite

The Centre of Vocal Arts, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of Greece and in collaboration with distinguished Cypriot institutions, presents in Cyprus one of the greatest works of Ianni Xenaki, "Oresteia", within the international tribute to the great Greek composer "Iannis Xenakis Year" which is under the auspices of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO.

The Plot
Xenakis’ "Oresteia" is his most developed work: a huge fresco, made of rough fragments, where the ancient chorus plays the leading role of the people, the gods and of the heroes simultaneously; with a vocal quality that is concrete, static and full of tension, with larynx punctuations, with simple rhythms and songs, and uniquely "suitable for the rare poetic language of Aeschylus". The whole orchestra comprises of ten wind instruments that often play out of their usual intervals, one violoncello and one complex percussion, enriched with unusual traditional instruments. The monologues of Cassandra and the Goddess Athena, which are of unsurpassed acrobatic dexterity, demand that the interpreting singer continuously alternate between the full range of a baritone and the full range of falsetto, while simultaneously accompanying himself on a Javan psaltery that is in parallel conversing with the percussion soloist. The work concludes in a noise of yells and metallic sheets, held by the soloists, the chorus, the musicians and the audience.
This work – "a hand outstretched to Aeschylus, whose trilogy never lost its power"- does not claim to be either authentic or exhaustive, but that it glorifies as a ceremony the end of the era of barbarism and the coming of the collective conscience. This "general hymn" remains a hymn of hope.
Maurice Fleuret

Centre of Vocal Arts
The Centre of Vocal Arts was founded in the early 70’s in the USA and from 1985 was established in Athens as well. In the last 30 years of action, it has organized research programmes and master classes, whilst also presenting musical and theatrical plays in Greece and abroad. With the ancient Greek drama and the role of the voice as its main starting point, the Centre of Vocal Arts has presented the following works "Oresteia" (Xenaki), "Persai" (Aischylou), "Ypo to ison fos" (Empirikou), "Proforiki Prodosia" (M. Kagel) and others, in Greece and Europe. Today, the Centre of Vocal Arts is a member of the Commission for the "Iannis Xenakis Year" and has presented the trilogy "Oresteia" in Athens, at the Constantinoupolis International Festival and at the International Festival in Montpelier.

Spyros Sakkas
Spyros Sakkas, an internationally acclaimed Greek baritone, performs in all genres of vocal music, be it baroque or contemporary, classic or romantic, lieder, folk song, operatic or concert; mostly though in the field of research and contemporary, experimental music. His concerts have drawn large audiences throughout the world and he has been heard on radio and television in almost every major city in America, Europe and Australia. Mr. Sakkas’ unique talent of world premiers include several of: J. Cage, G. Crumb, I. Xenakis, W. Rihm, J. Traverner, Th. Antoniou, W. Killmayer, R. Koering, W. Ligetti, I. Christou, G. Apergis, G. Kouroupos, W. Hiller, N. Mamagkakis, M. Hatzidakis etc. He has performed about 600 music-theatre world premiers; among them at least 250 were "written" especially for his voice.

Miguel Bernat
Born in Valencia (Spain) in 1966, Miguel Bernat received his musical education at the conservatories of Valencia, Madrid, Brussels and Rotterdam, and participated in the Aspen Summer Music Course. He was granted the "Premio Extraordinario Fin de Carrera" at the Conservatory of Madrid, the "Gaudeamus Special Percussion Prize" in 1993 and the 2nd prize at the Aspen Nakamichi Competition (USA). He is regularly invited to the most reputed international contemporary music festivals (France, England, Brazil, Venezuela, Australia, USA, Finland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Thailand etc.) to perform, amongst others, as a solo percussionist and to give Master Classes. A passionate performer of new music, Miguel Bernat has worked with numerous composers (many works being dedicated to him), thus contributing to the expansion and constant evolution of the contemporary repertoire for percussion.

Yiorgos Kountouris
Born in Nicosia in 1980, Yiorgos Kountouris holds a Master’s degree with honours and a post-graduate diploma in Orchestral and Operatic Conducting from the St. Petersburg State Conservatory (conducting: Prof. Alexander Alexeev, violin: Prof. Antonina Kazarena). In 2005 he conducted the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonia, and in the same year he had his debut in opera conducting. In 2006, Mr. Kountouris was appointed at the University of California, Los Angeles as the assistant conductor of the UCLA Philharmonia and UCLA Symphony Orchestras. He had his Cyprus debut in June 2008 as a guest conductor with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. In the following months, he conducted the Siberian Philharmonic Orchestra of Tomsk, the St. Petersburg State Philharmonic Orchestra and the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Kountouris resumes his research at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and he teaches conducting at the European University of Cyprus. His musicological works were published in the U.S.A., Greece and Russia.

Stage Director: Spyros Sakkas
Conductor: Yiorgos Kountouris
Choreographer: Natassa Zouka
Sound Design: Aghis Gyftopoulos
Soloist Baritone: Spyros Sakkas
Percussion Soloist: Miguel Bernat
Participating: Mixed Choirs and Children Choirs from Cyprus. The Music Ensemble consists of 13 international musician-soloists.
Production-Artistic Direction: Centre of Vocal Arts
Production Management: Diadromes Politismou

Box Office Bookings
Nicosia:
Pallas Cinema - Theatre
Tel.: 22410181

Limassol:
Rialto Theatre
Tel.: 77777745
On-line www.rialto.com.cy

Municipal Garden Theatre
Tel.: 25343341, 25582268

The performance is part of the Kypria International Festival 2012