Tribute to Manos Hadjidakis

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra presents the concerts series “Tribute to Manos Hadjidakis” with soloist Vasilis Gisdakis, who worked closely with Hadjidakis for many years. The distinguished singer will interpret songs from the song cycle At the Roman Agora which consists of songs that Hadjidakis wrote from 1947 to 1985, selected in order “to offer them” to the public again “with details genuinely musical” and “make them sound new” in a concert at the Roman Agora, below the Acropolis. The cycle comprises beloved songs such as “The ballad of Uri”, “Every garden” and “The moon is red”. The audience will also enjoy Gioconda’s smile, perhaps the most well-know symphonic work of Hadjidakis. The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by Alkis Baltas.

The concerts are organized in collaboration with the Greek Embassy in Cyprus, on the occasion of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Friday 17 January 2014, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Nicosia, 20:30
Saturday 18 January 2014, Larnaka Municipal Theatre, 20:30

Ticket Sales Managed by SoldOut Tickets at:
- SOEASY kiosks
- TIME OUT kiosk Paphos
- www.SoldoutTickets.com.cy

Ticket prices: €12 and €7 (18- 26 years old and pensioners)
Free entrance for children and students under 18 years old

VASILIS GISDAKIS
He studied classical guitar and music theory. He took singing lessons with Yiorgos Samartzis and collaborated in the “Vocal Art Workshop” with Spyros Sakkas. In 1989 he met Manos Hadjidakis who, later in the year, presented him in his concert “Sirios” at Pallas Theatre. From 1989 until 1993 he participated in all the concerts of the composer, singing under his direction. His repertoire includes Hadjidakis’s works such as The songs from the movies, Mythology, Blood wedding, At the Roman Agora, The popular market, a.o.. He has collaborated with the Orchestra of Colours in concerts in Greece and abroad, at the Athens Megaron Hall and Herodes Atticus Odeon, the ensemble “Manos Hadjidakis”, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Volos Symphony Orchestra, as well as distinguished artists such as Maria Farantouri, Manolis Mitsias, Alkinoos Ioannides, Savvina Yiannatou, Kalliopi Veta, Nena Venetsanou, Aliki Kagialoglou, Elias Liougos, Gerasimos Andreatos, Elli Paspala, Notis Mavroudes, Loudovikos ton Anogion, Miltos Logiades, Spyros Sakkas, a.o.. In a concert series devoted to Mikis Theodorakis’s music, he interpreted the song cycle Mauthauzen, and was highly praised by the composer. Recent highlights of his carrier were the tour “Tribute to Manos Loizos” with Stelios Botonakis and Maria Louka (2006-7), the concerts “Poetry set to music” with Soteria Leonardou, Kalliopi Veta and Stelios Botonakis (2007-8), the performance “Sing City” with Soteria Leonardou and Stelios Botonakis, presented in Athens and other cities and released on CD under the same title (2008-9) and the concerts “Tribute to Nikos Gatsos” with Maria Farantouri, Alkinoos Ioannides at the Athens Megaron Hall, Herodes Atticus Odeon and Cyprus (2011).

ALKIS BALTAS
He was born in Thessaloniki. He studied at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki and continued his music studies in Berlin obtaining a diploma in composition and orchestral conducting. In 1974 he obtained a Law degree from the Aristotle University, Thessaloniki.From 1983 to 1992 he was Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki State Orchestra. During 1994-1997 he held the position of Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera and between 1997 and 1999 of the Artistic Manager of ERT Music Ensembles. From 2004 to 2008 Corfu Municipality appointed him Artistic Director of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra. In 2009 he was appointed Conductor of the Thessaloniki State Conservatory Orchestra. In 2010 he undertook the Artistic Direction of the Old Philharmonic Society of Corfu Symphony Orchestra. Since 2001 he is the Artistic Director of Patmos Sacred Music Festival. In May 2011 the CySO Foundation appointed him Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He is the Director of “Ellinikon Odeion” of Athens and the “Music College” in Thessaloniki. He has taught for many years at the Musicology department of Aristotle University. He is a member of the Greek Composers Union. Many of his works (chamber music, choral and orchestral works, opera, etc.) have been repeatedly performed in Greece and abroad. Some of his compositions have received awards in competitions in Greece and abroad (Italy, Spain). Recently a double CD with his works has been released by Iris. He has conducted all the Greek orchestras and has given many concerts abroad (Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania, Cyprus, Soviet Union, Turkey, USA, Argentina, Australia, England, Thailand, Qatar a.o.).