GREEK SONGS BY BY NON-GREEK COMPOSERS

In the beginning of 2022, on the aftermath of the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution (1821-2021) and the independence of the new Greek state, after a great deal of music of Greek and philhellene composers had been performed and rediscovered, I became acquainted with A. Dvorak’s work “Three modern Greek Poems”. Fascinated as to how the Czech poet Vaclav Bolemir Nebesky became interested in translating Greek folk songs into Czech, and consequently, how the composer set them to music, I started thinking of other composers that had a collateral look upon Greece. It was a different approach in comparison to what we Greeks were used to when considering the romantic era of the Greek Revolution. There was an alternative perception of non – Greek composers on Greece and Greek culture.

Thus, the idea for the programme of this CD was born. It comprises of complete song cycles entitled by the composers “Greek Songs” which are set on ancient, folk or 20th century Greek poetry, translated into the mother tongue of each composer.

The content of the songs relates to three different periods of Greek history. Although the common thread is always Greece, the different circumstances and political scenery of each era influence quite differently how poetry and music are expressed.

ELENA MARANGOU
Greek mezzo soprano Elena Marangou has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as Philharmonie and Altstadt Herbstorchester Düsseldorf, Cognimus Kollektiv, Armonia Athenea, Athens State Orchestra, Greek Radio Symphonic Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestra of Colours, Municipal Orchestras of Athens and Thessaloniki. Her repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music. She has collaborated with the Athens Concert Hall, the Greek National Opera, the Athens and Epidaurus Festival as well as with baroque and chamber music ensembles. Conductors she has worked with include Christopher Warren-Green, Helmut Rilling, Philippe Auguin, Thorsten Göbel, George Petrou, Zoi Tsokanou, Miltos Logiadis, Loukas Karytinos, Nikolas Vassiliou, Yorgos Ziavras.