Dedicated to three important composers who lived and created at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century is the concert organized by Classical Music Friends Club with guests the string quartet “Forever” and her Elena Christodoulou (piano).
The concert, titled “At the gates of the 20th century” and works by Enrique Granados, Leo Janacek and Amy Beach will take place on Saturday, November 2, 2024 and time 20:30 in the concert hall of the Philharmonic Society Patras Conservatory (R. Feraiu 7, Patras).
Elena Christodoulou
Tickets cost 12 euros (general admission) and 8 euros (students and unemployed) and you can get them from the “To Doni” bookstore, Karaiskaki 147 (Monday to Friday 11:00-17:00, Saturday 11:00-14 :00). Entry for Club members is free, but it is necessary to purchase a ticket from the “To Doti” Bookstore.
The concert will take the audience on a journey through some of the greatest pieces of the period, constituting a musical journey – a tribute to the chamber music and musical currents of the period.
Enrique Granados’ Piano Quintet (1895) is a short-lived gem of the anthology. Associated in various ways with the French chamber music of the period, it also reflects the vibrancy of Spanish music at the dawn of the 20th century.
Leo Janacek’s String Quartet No.1 (1923) was written in the last years of the composer’s life during a period of intense compositional creation. Based on Leo Tolstoy’s novel “Kreutzer’s Sonata”, the quartet captures and “translates” into a highly melodramatic musical language the intense dialogues and emotions of the characters.
American composer Amy Beach’s Piano Quintet is a work that evokes great piano quintets of the Romantic period. Intensely lyrical and with rich emotional depth, it is rarely performed.
“Enanon” String Quartet
The string quartet “Aenaon” was created in 2016 by distinguished musicians of the State Orchestra of Athens (K.O.A.) With the aim of performing works of the classical as well as the Greek repertoire, older and modern, “Aenaon” consists of the violinists Giorgos Mandylas (Prominent A’ and deputy exarch of the A’ violins of the K.O.A.) and Vassilis Soukas (member of the A’ violins of the K.O.A.), the violinist Antilochos Tranos (member of the violins of the K.O.A.) and the cellist Asterios Pouftis (Top 2nd st K.O.A. cello).
The quartet has participated with great success in social and educational programs of K.O.A., inside and outside Athens and has developed an independent concert activity as one of the most basic musical ensembles of the Orchestra. He participated in the cultural program “(Dis)playing Attica” of the Greek presidency of the Council of Europe and in the context of the events “All Greece is a Culture”, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture. He has also performed at the Concert Hall of Athens and Thessaloniki, at the Delphi Conference Center, at the Gyzi Festival, at the Nafplio Festival as well as at the National Theater of Serbia in Belgrade.
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**Interview with Elena Christodoulou about the Upcoming Concert “At the Gates of the 20th Century”**
**Editor:** Hello, Elena! Thank you for joining us today. We’re excited about your upcoming concert with the Classical Music Friends Club titled ”At the Gates of the 20th Century.” Can you tell us what motivated you to focus on these particular composers?
**Elena Christodoulou:** Thank you for having me! The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century was a time of immense transformation in music. Composers like Enrique Granados, Leo Janacek, and Amy Beach broke new ground and infused their cultural identities into their works. This concert is a tribute to that spirit of innovation and a celebration of their unique contributions.
**Editor:** Each of these composers has a distinct style. What can the audience expect in terms of the musical journey you’ll be providing during the concert?
**Elena Christodoulou:** We’re delighted to perform Granados’ Piano Quintet, which wonderfully captures the vibrancy of Spanish music mixed with the French chamber music influences of the time. Then, we have Janacek’s String Quartet No. 1, a piece filled with emotional depth and reflection on human experiences. Amy Beach’s contributions further highlight the era’s diverse musical currents. Together, they offer a rich tapestry that transports the audience through a significant period in music history.
**Editor:** Sounds captivating! Can you share a bit about the setting of the concert at the Philharmonic Society Patras Conservatory?
**Elena Christodoulou:** Absolutely! The Conservatory is a beautiful venue that enhances the acoustics, making it a perfect backdrop for chamber music. It allows the audience to intimately experience the interplay between musicians, which is essential for pieces like the ones we’ll be performing. We’re really looking forward to this special evening on November 2nd at 20:30.
**Editor:** What should attendees know about ticket availability and prices?
**Elena Christodoulou:** Tickets are quite affordable—12 euros for general admission and 8 euros for students and the unemployed. They can be purchased at the “To Doni” bookstore. For our Club members, entry is free with a ticket, so it’s a great opportunity for them to join us. We hope to see a full house enjoying this musical celebration!
**Editor:** Thank you so much, Elena, for sharing your insights about the concert. We wish you and the “Forever” String Quartet the best for what promises to be a remarkable evening of music!
**Elena Christodoulou:** Thank you! We can’t wait to perform and share this journey through music with everyone.
