Markellos Chryssicos & Theodora Baka

The Pharos Arts Foundation, in collaboration with the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus, presents “...di Amori e Lamenti...” – a fascinating evening of baroque love songs and laments with harpsichordist Markellos Chryssicos and mezzo-soprano Theodora Baka. Having studied the harpsichord from a very young age and with a vast experience in repertoire ranging from early madrigals to Rossini operas, Markellos Chryssicos has forged an international reputation as a conductor. He has conducted a number of celebrated orchestras and ensembles all over the world, including the Venice Baroque Orchestra, the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Bach Consort Wien, has appeared in such renowned venues as the Festspiele Halle, the Theater an der Wien, the Kammeroper Wien, Wigmore Hall, Bayreuth opera, and has received raving reviews for his discography and a number of distinctions, including Choc du Monde de la Musique and Melomano de Oro. Mezzo-soprano Theodora Baka has performed as a soloist in prestigious venues all over the world, including the Théâtre des Champs Ėlysées, Theater an der Wien, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos Lisbon, Opernhaus Bayreuth, state theaters of Bremen, amongst others. Her core repertoire, extensive and diverse, ranges from works of the Mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque eras to Mozart and Rossini, the Romantic Lied and the opera of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as contemporary music and the music of her native Greece. Her rich discography has won her outstanding reviews from international media as well as a Diapason d’or in 2014. For their concert on Tuesday 5 February 2019, at The Shoe Factory, Nicosia, Markellos Chryssicos and Theodora Baka will perform a varied and exciting baroque programme by Purcel, Strozzi, Monteverdi, Landi and many others.

MARKELLOS CHRYSSICOS harpsichord

Markellos Chryssicos studied the harpsichord with Margarita Dalmati in Athens. He continued his studies on Historical Performance in Paris with S. Romeo and O. Baumont, and in Salzburg’s Mozarteum with K. Gilbert and S. Rampe. He completed his studies at the Conservatoire de musique de Genève (having been awarded Prix de virtuosité avec Distinction) with the late Christiane Jaccottet of whom he was the last student.

Having acquired a vast and solid repertoire ranging from early madrigals to Rossini operas, Chryssicos founded in 2009 the Latinitas Nostra ensemble making odd musical pairings the trademark of the group – in projects such as An English Traveller into the Levant with Elizabethan and Ottoman music (Athens Festival, 2013) and “… for soon I will be layed in earth…” with French Leçons des Ténèbres and Rebetiko music (Onassis Cultural Center, 2015). His production of Monteverdi’s Incoronazione di Poppea, in 2011, as well as Stradella's San Giovanni Battista, in 2015, have been acclaimed as highlights of the International Athens Festival.

As an assistant conductor to George Petrou, Markellos Chryssicos participated in various staged productions as well as award winning recordings for MDG, Decca and Sony, including, George Frideric Handel’s Arianna in Creta, Tamerlano, Giulio Cesare, Alessandro Severo, Arminio, Alessandro; Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Il Trionfo di Clelia, and Johann Adolph Hasse’s Siroe.

Chryssicos has conducted the Venice Baroque Orchestra in a double CD recording on Metastasio’s L'Olimpiade (Naïve label) that was awarded the distinction Choc du Monde de la Musique. As a conductor, he frequently collaborates with Armonia Atenea, the State Symphony Orchestra of Athens, the State Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Bach Consort Wien, amongst others, and has appeared in such renowned venues as the Greek National Opera, the Festspiele Halle, the Theater an der Wien, the Kammeroper Wien (opening in 2018 the season for the second time in a row), Wigmore Hall, Bayreuth opera.

His discography with the Latinitas Nostra includes Lamento – a CD with 17th century lamenti –featuring the Italian mezzosoprano Romina Basso (Naïve label), which received raving reviews from the international press, and Dilettanti – a collection of 18th century dilettante music – with the Spanish countertenor Xavier Sabata (Aparté label) that was awarded a Melomano de Oro.

Showing a keen interest in the music of the 20th and 21st centuries, Markellos Chryssicos’ forthcoming engagements include Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera Amahl and the Night Visitors with Armonia Atenea and the premiere of the new opera Visions and Wonders by Dimitris Maragopoulos.

THEODORA BAKA mezzo-soprano

Mezzo-soprano Theodora Baka studied Opera and Chamber Music at the University of Music and Drama in Hanover, Germany. She has performed as a soloist in prestigious venues all over the world, including the Théâtre des Champs Ėlysées, Theater an der Wien, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos Lisbon, Markgräfisches Opernhaus Bayreuth, state theaters of Bremen, Bielefeld, Wiesbaden and Piacenza, Teatro Communale of Ferrara, Arriaga Theater Bilbao, Perm State Tchaikovsky Opera (Russia), Greek National Opera, Concert Halls of Athens and Thessaloniki. She has been featured in renowned festivals, such as Göttingen International Handel Festival, Bayreuther Barock, Boston Early Music Festival, Musica e Poesia a San Maurizio in Italy, Styriarte in Austria, Athens-Greek Festival, and she has collaborated with orchestras and ensembles such as Philharmonische Gesellschaft Bremen, Fretwork, Il Complesso Barocco (under the baton of Alan Curtis), MusicaAeterna (under the baton of Teodor Currentzis), Atalante (direction: Erin Headley), Latinitas Nostra (direction: Markellos Chryssicos), Ex Silentio (direction: Dimitris Kountouras), Orchestra of Patras (direction: George Petrou), national orchestras of Athens and Thessaloniki, and Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra.

Her core repertoire, extensive and diverse, ranges from works of the Mediaeval, Renaissance and Baroque eras to Mozart and Rossini, the Romantic Lied and the opera of the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as contemporary music and the music of her native Greece. Her operatic repertoire includes roles such as Zulma (Rossini – L’Italiana in Algeri), Cherubino (Mozart – Nozze di Figaro), Despina (Mozart – Cosi fan tutte), Sesto (Handel – Giulio Cesare), Poppea (Monteverdi – L'incoronazione di Poppea), Melanto (Monteverdi – Intorno d’ Ulisse in patria), Musica (Monteverdi – Orfeo), Sappho (Rameau – Les fêtes d’Hébé), Aristeo (Luigi Rossi – Orfeo), Alceste (Handel – Arianna in Creta), Ramiro (Vivaldi – Motezuma).

Theodora Baka has received outstanding reviews for her performance of Alceste in the recording of Handel’s Arianna in Creta under the baton of George Petrou (for MDG label), as well as for the recordings of Scarlatti’s opera Tolomeo e Alessandro (for ARCHIV) and Handel’s opera Giove in Argo (for Virgin Classics), and the DVD recording of Vivaldi’s opera Motezuma (for Dynamic). Her interpretation in the CD Reliquie di Roma, recorded with the British ensemble Atalante under the baton of Erin Headley and featuring 17th century Roman laments, won a Diapason d’or in 2014. Baka’s extended discography includes an album with Greek traditional songs for the German label Raumklang, an album with works for voice and guitar with the German guitarist Rainer Scheurenbrand, and two CDs of medieval songs – Nell autunno di Bisanzio (for Talanton label) and Mneme (for Carpe Diem) – with ensemble Ex Silentio.

Tickets:
€15 / €10 Concessions & members of the Pharos Arts Foundation,
Box Office: Directly from the Foundation’s website www.pharosartsfoundation.org/ Tickets_online.htm or Tel. +35722663871 (Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm)