Performers

Polish Orchestra Sinfonia Iuventus named after Jerzy Semkow

Stathis Karapanos | flute, conductor

Program

Gioacchino Rossini

Overture to the opera 'William Tell'

Mikis Theodorakis

Suite from the music for the film 'Zorba the Greek'

intermission

Ottorino Respighi / Gioacchino Rossini

'La Boutique fantasque'

William Tell is a semi-legendary Swiss hero from the early 14th century, remembered for his opposition to tyranny. His story has become the canvas for literary works, as well as the last opera by Gioachino Rossini composed for Paris in 1829. The impressive, illustrative overture to this work is often performed independently, one of the most beloved symphonic miniatures.

After withdrawing from operatic life, Rossini created, among other things, a humorous piano cycle Péchés de vieillesse ('Sins of Old Age'), and it is the pieces contained therein that served as the basis for the ballet La Boutique fantasque, staged (1919) in London with choreography by Léonide Massine. The colorful orchestration was done by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, who remained faithful to the neo-Romantic musical language during the aesthetic transformations of the early 20th century.

Mikis Theodorakis, who passed away in 2021, was one of the icons of contemporary Greek music (also a politician and human rights activist, imprisoned during the dictatorship of the 'black colonels'). He studied music in Paris (including with Olivier Messiaen) and created ambitious concert works, but it was film music, especially for Zorba the Greek directed by Michael Cacoyannis in 1964, that brought him worldwide fame, with the unforgettable title role played by Anthony Quinn. The sirtaki dance, associated from then on with Greek folk music, gained particular popularity, although... it did not exist in it (despite having prototypes) – it was invented and developed for the film scene. The Zorba soundtrack is rich in many beautiful, yet less remembered motifs, which will be juxtaposed and recalled in an interesting concert suite.

The carnival concert will be conducted by the young flutist Stathis Karapanos from Athens, known on international stages, also active as a conductor. A musician with versatile interests also reaches for ethnic and unconventional types of flutes. A respected soloist and chamber musician, he has in his repertoire premieres of new works, and the presented suite with an exposed flute part is a new arrangement of Theodorakis's music, realized by Karapanos (and at his initiative) together with Achilleas Wastor.

Tickets: eBilet - https://tiny.pl/zvdjjs3c

Polish Radio – tickets 24 - https://tiny.pl/gkhygvhm

Organizer: Polish Orchestra Sinfonia Iuventus named after Jerzy Semkow

The organizer reserves the right to change the concert program or its performers.