Programme announcement of the 8th International Kalamata Music Days
Dear friends and music lovers, our beloved audience,
We are thrilled to announce hereby the programme of the 8th edition of the International Kalamata Music Days! In addition to the decision to move the entire festival to late August/beginning of September, this year’s significance lies in the concept of the concert programming. By providing a common stage and roof as well as shared concerts to a diverse array of international and local artists, our festival’s 8th edition embraces the concept of pluralism, draws attention to musical contrasts and tries to animate an extensive exchange of artistic ideas. The coupling of instrumental and vocal ensembles, the antithesis of musical genres and traditions, as well as the synergy of musicians, who – under other circumstances – would unlikely have had the chance to cooperate, is accentuating the universality of the musical language and aiming to shape new common experiences of artists and audience.
The festival will begin with the long-established piano and violin masterclasses with Alexia Mouza and Felix Froschhammer, respectively. Both courses are planned for the period August 26–31, 2024. On August 28, the tutors will appear on stage for a joint recital at the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata. Both masterclasses will close with a shared concert of their participants on August 31.
Within the framework of the 2024 programme of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, “All of Greece, One Culture”, which this year is focusing on the concept of Conflict, the performance “Snow Whites” will be held at the Ancient Theatre of Messene on August 29 and 30. “Snow Whites” is a performance for two narrators and a four-member instrumental ensemble with original music by Stathis Giftakis. It is a production of Mission Art AMKE.
On September 1, renowned cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras will play a solo recital at the awe-inspiring Ekklesiasterion of Ancient Messene. A violoncello masterclass with him will be held at the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata from September 1–6. The final concert of this course will be held on September 5.
Reappearing in our festival to present their newest compositions for their upcoming third album, celebrated Athens-based Spiral Trio will play at the studio of the Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 2. While embodying Greek modern jazz of the finest kind, this jazz piano trio’s upcoming album release is something clearly to be excited about.
International Caerus Chamber Ensemble, consisting of Jonian Ilias Kadesha, Pablo Hernán Benedí, Lily Francis, Vashti Hunter and Noam Greenberg, will travel to Kalamata for a series of three concerts – “Antitheseis” on September 3, “Suite Case” on September 6 and “Poepic” on September 7 – during which they will share the stages of the Kalamata Dance Megaron with the Kalamata-based traditional musicians Nikos Palaiologos and Diotima Spantidea, with the also Kalamata-based “Melifono” Women’s Vocal Ensemble as well as with other artists.
A joint violin, viola and chamber music masterclass with Jonian Ilias Kadesha and Pablo Hernán Benedí as tutors and a piano masterclass with Noam Greenberg will also be held from September 1–8. Both masterclasses will close with a shared participant’s concert at Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 8.
Established events and concert series of our festival, which will carry their tradition on during the 8th edition, are, among others, the “silent cinema night” and the “Young talents in concert” series. During this year’s screening, which is enabled in collaboration with the “Filmhouse” New Film Club of Kalamata, a triptych of short films by Buster Keaton will be ingeniously accompanied by the Kalamata-based Moving Band. The screening will be held at the Municipal Railway Park on September 4. Regarding the latter concert series, cellist Melinda Konstantinidou and guitarists Konstantina Malapani and Akis Sipsas – all of them alumni of the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata – will appear on the stage of the studio of the Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 9. The work “Aria & imaginary dance” for violoncello and two guitars, Op.117 by Stathis Giftakis will be presented in its world premiere during this concert. A further long-established festival event is the conducting masterclass with Joshua Weilerstein, which this year will start on September 6 and close with a final concert of its participants at the Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 10.
Last but not least, the festival’s 8th edition dares to close its concert series this time with something different than classical music: New York-based Lau Noah, embodying the latest word of independent songwriting, will appear for a solo concert and her Greek debut on September 10.
All masterclasses will be held at the Municipal Conservatory and the Philharmonic Amphitheatre of Kalamata. Attendance to all masterclasses is free for the public.
The festival is organized by the Municipality of Kalamata, the “FARIS” Kalamata Municipality Beneficiary Organization, the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata, the Association of Parents and Guardians of the Students and Friends of the Municipal Art Schools of Kalamata “TERPSIS“, under the auspices and the financial support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. The concert “Queyras SOLO” in Ancient Messene is co-organized with the Region of Peloponnese.
We would like to express our warmest thanks to the George & Victoria Karelia Foundation; the festival’s Grand Sponsor, almost since its inception.
Also, we would like to thank the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, for their financial support of the masterclasses, and to the Kalamata Friends of Music Association, for awarding four scholarships for participation in the masterclasses to students of the Municipal Conservatory and the “Maria Callas” Music School in 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 seeing you at this grand celebration of music!
With appreciation,
The founding and organizing team of the festival:
Indira Rahmatulla, Stathis Gyftakis, Dimitrios Lampos