Programme presentation of the 9th International Kalamata Music Days

Dear music lovers, dear audience,

From August 24 to September 6, 2025, the Messenian capital will host the 9th International Kalamata Music Days. This year, through a plurality of different musical genres and styles, the festival focuses on the concept of diversity. Beginning with the contrast between written and oral musical traditions of the Middle Ages and extending to the dialogue between pop and avant-garde music of recent decades, this year’s concert programme seeks to uncover the timeless essence of creativity and artistic expression. In a world on fire, this can only be found in the universally common human experience, which transcends all cultural and individual differences.

This year’s programme includes concerts with distinguished international artists, such as cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras, violinist Jonian Ilias Kadesha, mezzo-soprano Ema Nikolovska, the cello and percussion duo of Hugo Rannou and Emil Kuyumcuyan, the vocal ensemble TRËI, the Balkan music ensemble TRI i DVE, as well as the Greek early music ensemble Lycabettus, which specialises in medieval and Renaissance repertoire.

At the same time, masterclasses will be offered in piano, violin, viola, cello, vocal performance, and chamber music. For the first time, the festival will also host an International Young Artists Competition aimed at discovering and promoting emerging talents.

The events will take place at the Kalamata Dance Megaron (Alternative Stage), the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata, and the Ekklesiasterion of Ancient Messene.

The festival is organised by the Municipality of Kalamata, the “FARIS” Kalamata Municipality Beneficiary Organization, the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata, and the “TERPSIS” Association of Parents and Guardians of the Students and Friends of the Municipal Art Schools of Kalamata, and it is held under the auspices and with the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to the George & Victoria Karelia Foundation, Grand Sponsor of the festival since 2018.

We would also like to thank the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation for its support, the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation for its sponsorship, and the Region of the Peloponnese as well as the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia for co-organizing the concert in Ancient Messene. Special thanks to the Kalamata Friends of Music Association for consistently offering scholarships to students of our city.

The Official Grand Communication Sponsor of the festival is ERT3, the TRITO PROGRAMMA 90.9, and ERT Kalamata.

The International Kalamata Music Days is awarded the quality art festival label EFFE LABEL 2024–2025.

You can find the full concert programme here.

We look forward to welcoming you again this year to this great celebration of music!

Sincerely,

The founding team of the festival,

Indira Rahmatulla, Stathis Giftakis, Dimitrios Lampos