The Saronic Chamber Music Festival, now widely acknowledged as an outstanding musical institution, has presented exceptional international musicians combining to perform the core classical chamber music repertoire for nine consecutive years. The ensemble has developed a faithful audience of locals and music lovers from across Europe, attracted by the youthful and committed performances of this passionate ensemble of musical friends.
From July 31st to August 4thworld-renowned musicians, including Concertmaster ofthe Metropolitan Opera, New York, Benjamin Bowman, will perform five concerts in the inspirational environs of the Saronic Islands. The repertoire will include major works of Mozart, Schumann, Dvorak, Schubert, Brahms andthe Greek composer, Nikos Skalkottas.
The Festival welcomes Mr Βowman for the sixth time along with first time participants, Αndrew Joyce, Principal Cello of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Kana Sugimura, an international competition winner and a much in demand chamber musician for festivals around the world.
Regular guest artists of the Saronic Festival include: Finnish violinist,Sini Simonen, leader of the Castalian String Quartet and the Calvino Piano Trio; the Israeli-born pianist,Noam Greenberg, one of the UK’s leading chamber music pianists and Artistic Director of Music Festival at Tresanton; the cellist, Julian Arp, Principal Cello of O/Modernt chamber orchestra and Professor of Cello at the University for Arts in Graz.
This year’s program includes the famous second piano trio of Franz Schubert, the masterly but rarely performed Piano Trio No. 3,Op. 110 of Robert Schumann; the much-loved String Sextet,Op. 36 of Johannes Brahms; the late String Quintet in D of W.A. Mozart; the string quartetknown as the”American” by Antonin Dvorak and the Duo for Violin and Viola by Nikos Skalkottas, honoring 70 years since the composer’s death. The program is a celebration of the diversity within the classical repertoire, with concerts that promise to be a nourishing experience for anyone with a small amount of curiosity to attend. This is a Festival that nurtures an informal atmosphere open to all and free to young people under 18 and is an opportunity to hear chamber music at the very highest level.
The 2019 Saronic Chamber Music Festival is made possible by the generous support of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Athens and receives the full backing of the municipalities of Hydra, Poros and Trizinias-Methana. The Hydra series is sponsored by Mr Hercules Kontos in memory of his wife, Therese Kontos, a lover of music.
A note on the Directors:
The Saronic Chamber Music Festival and the Leondari Ensemble were founded by Greek violinist, Jannis Agraniotis, and Australian violist, Francis Kefford, two musicians who shared a love of the Saronic Islands and a love of chamber music. Jannis currently collaborates with Athens Camerata (Friends of Music Orchestra) and has worked with the Greek National Opera and the Athens State Orchestra. He has appeared in all of the major Greek concert halls as well as in Germany as a recitalist and chamber musician. Francis is a frequent performer with the UK’s leading orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Aurora Orchestra and the Britten Sinfonia.
Full artist biographies: www.saronicfestival.com/artists
FULL FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Wednesday, July 31, 21:00
ΜΕΤΗΑΝΑ
String Quartet in F major, American’,Op. 96 DVORAK
String Quintet in D major, K. 593 MOZART
Venue: Open Amphitheatre of Kameni Chora
Thursday, August 1, 21:00
GALATAS
Piano Trio No.3 in G minor, Op. 110 SCHUMANN
Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb major, D. 929 SCHUBERT
Venue:Galatas School
Friday, August 2, 21:00
POROS
Duo for Violin and Viola (1938) SKALKOTTAS
String Quartet in F major, American,Op. 96 DVORAK
String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36 BRAHMS
Venue: Syggrou Amphitheatre
Saturday, August 3, 21:00
HYDRA
Piano Trio No. 2 in Eb major, D. 929 SCHUBERT
Duo for Violin and Viola (1938) SKALKOTTAS
String Quartet in F major, ‘American’,Op. 96 DVORAK
Venue: Bratsera Hotel
Friday, August 4, 21:00
HYDRA
String Quintet in D major, K. 593 MOZART
Piano Trio No.3 in G minor, Op. 110 SCHUMANN
String Sextet No. 2 in G major, Op. 36 BRAHMS
Venue:Bratsera Hotel
INFORMATION
TICKETS
HYDRA : 10 euro (standard), 30 euro (premium)
POROS / METHANA: 10 euro (standard)
GALATAS : entry by donation
Young people under 18: free entrance at all concerts
Book your tickets in advance at: www.saronicfestival.com/book-tickets
General info: www.saronicfestival.com
