An evening with Leonidas Kavakos and Mediterranean music.

Rectangular shaped glasses and long dark hair, the seemingly serious but
nevertheless genius Leonidas Kavakos will be conducting the chamber
orchestra of Europe. For the first time after their previews collaboration last
summer in Luzern festival, and the brilliant interpretation of the Mozart G
major concerto, the Chamber orchestra of Europe and Leonidas kavakos meet
again for the pleasure of our ears and the beauty of art. Recognize across the
world as one of the most talented violinist of our time, Leonidas, known for his
incredible virtuosity, will this time leave his Abergavenny Stradivarius from
1724 back stage, and it is with the baton that he will freely express his
musicianship conducting an unusual and extraordinary program. Originally
from Greece, where here grew up in a musical family in Athens, it is quite
naturally that the program of tonight, chosen by Kavakos and the chamber
orchestra of Europe is centered on Mediterranean music.

What a better country to start with than Italy. The fourth symphony of
Mendelssohn is a musical postcard from Italy. Composed in 1833, this
symphony in A called Italian contains Italian motives, specially remarkable in
its last movement saltarello, typical Neapolitan dance. Starting with an
unissono played by the entire orchestra the noticeable rhythm of the dance,
the beginning of the fourth movement quickly leave the stage to two lonely
flutes, keeping the rhythm and playing the melody. Gradually the entire
orchestra join the rhythm in a perpetual movement.

This concert will then bring us in France, with the composer Darius Milhaud
(1992/1974). Originally from Aix en Provence and Marseille in the French
provence, Darius Milhaud composed this symphony in 1944 in the United State
where Kavakos studied with Joseph Gingold the teacher of another extremely
talented violinist: Joshua Bell. Divide in five movements: Paisible, Mysterieux,
Douloureux, Avec serenite, Alleluia, this symphony is part of the huge
orchestral repertoire of Darius Milhaud. The latter has one of the most
complete repertoire, involving chamber music opera, ballet, vocal, solo..
considered as one of the most prolific composer of the century, he was also
member of the groupe des six among Francis Poulenc, Arthur honegger, louis
Durey, Georges Auric, and the woman and only female member of this group
Germaine Tailleferre.

At the end this concert brings us to the country of the maestro Leonidas
Kavakos: Greece. Tongues of fire by Jani Christou(1929/1970) is an oratorio
scored for soloists, chorus and orchestra was composed in 1964 in response to
a commission by the English Bach Festival. Recreating the anxiety and the
expectations of the first Christians, it is quite naturally that the texts used in
this piece are directly from the Church liturgy, such as gospels, or orthodox
mass. The sound of this orchestra, mixed with the voices of talented soloists
from the National Choir of Athens creates a perfect combination. Piano
student of Gina Bachnauer, but also philosophy student, Christou is probably
one of the most famous Greek composer of the XX century.