The Arts of Psarantonis

Deeply versed in the musical traditions of his land, but also nonconformist and inquisitive by nature Antonis Xylouris – Psarantonis has established himself as a living legend of music, having enriched the Cretan, Mediterranean and Euro- pean music with inimitable sounds, exquisite music and singular interpretations.

His music but also his thoughts on music, embody the ancient mythology of Crete. Either singing about Zeus or telling the story of how the mythical shepherd Hantiperas made the first lyre, or talking about Zeus’ protectors, the Kourites, or ex- pressing with his lyre the living myth of his native land, Psarantonis gives body and soul – with his physical presence and his art – to the ancient myths of Crete. He does so not only with his virtuosity, but also with his belief in those myths, which he approaches with heart and mind, convinced of their modern-day presence and their energy.

In Psarantonis’ music one sometimes hears running waters that purl, other times the sound of lonely trees bat- tered by the wind, or “the hum of the earth and the rumble of the wind”, as Kornaros has put it. There are also occasions when his upright, abrupt hold of the fiddlestick drive you to the edge of the cliff “where times collide and meet”. Psarantonis has now gained international recognition. Already in the 1980s prominent foreign musicians and scholars of ethnic music globally had discovered his talent and had invited him to major festivals in Australia, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United States, Cyprus and elsewhere.

Most recently, in 2014, Psarantonis measured up his musical genius against high poetry from across the world, performing works by major poets such as Baudelaire, Pushkin, Rilke, Lorca and Borges, set to music by Dimitris Apostolakis from the Hainides. Art, as these and other great artists have taught us, is the fruit of artistic loneliness. It is the personal path towards an artistic vision, which every great artist follows with faith and devotion for life. Such artistic loneliness accompanies Psarantonis all these years as he treads the difficult path of his personal quest into quality music.

Antonis Xylouris – Psarantonis: Cretan lyre,vocals
Niki Xylouri: pitcher, drum, vocals
Giorgis Xylouris: lute, vocals
Lambis Xylouris: oud
Nektarios Kontoyiannis: lute

Ticket price: €10
Students/Discounted tickets: €5
Ticket card for all September – October events: €40

For information and reservations:
Monday to Friday 9.30 – 13.30
Tel. 22894531-2
e-mail: [email protected]