ergon ensemble
contemporary music, athens
The repatriation of the
diaspora
The repatriation of the Diaspora IV: Germany
26, January 2022
at Megaron Concert Hall
Konstantinos Terzakis, conductor
ERGON ENSEMBLE
Program
Nikos Skalkotas: Night Music from 32 piano pieces
Argyris Kounadis: Blues (1970)
Konstantia Gourzi: Néome, opus 87 (2020) premiere in Greece
Dimitris Terzakis: Οktoechos (1987-89)
Minas Borboudakis: Meta-soundscapes (ROAI IV) (2008) premiere in Greece
Geogria Koumara: Rhinoceritis (2019) premiere in Greece
Post-war Germany demonstrates that it renounces in practice the dark pages of its recent Nazi past and engages actively in providing moral, financial and practical support to the musical avant-garde. Generations of Greek composers studying at Germany’s musical academies find fertile ground for developing their musical activities and choose German cities in which to settle. Kounadis in Freiburg, Terzakis in Leipzig, Borboudakis and Gourzi in Munich, as well as the very young Koumara in Köln – all of them have been and still are present at the forefront of developments in the music scene of their era. The prolific Ergon ensemble presents characteristic works of theirs, many of them for the first time in Greece.
The repatriation of the Diaspora iii:
France
19, October 2021
at Megaron Concert Hall
Conductor: Musashi Baba
ERGON ENSEMBLE
Program
Filippos Sakagian: Encéphalogramme, for clarinet, percussion, cello and piano
Nicolas Tzortzis: …à une main, hommage à Roger Federer, for solo violin and a six-member chamber ensemble
Georges Aperghis: Teeter-Totter, for chamber ensemble
Iannis Xenakis: Phlegra, for chamber ensemble
The “Repatriation of the Diaspora” is a joint project of Ergon Ensemble and Megaron, whose aim is to introduce the public to Greek composers of contemporary music or Greek composers active outside Greece. This year, the active instrumental ensemble, which in the last few years has been regularly presenting us with masterful readings of works of the contemporary repertoire, presents four chamber music works of Greek composers who were or are based in Paris. The French capital, a music centre open to pioneering explorations and experimentation, has been home to many generations of major internationally acclaimed composers, who studied or worked there. Standing out among them are Greek 20th century composers, such as the towering figure of post-war avant-garde music Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001), the imaginatively revolutionary Georges Aperghis (b. 1945), along with dynamic representatives of today’s musical avant-garde, such as Nicolas Tzortzis (b. 1978) and the very young but rising Filippos Sakagian (b. 1992).
The repatriation of the Diaspora ii:
In the beginning of New Worlds
14, April 2021
at Megaron Concert Hall
Conductor: Giorgos Ziavras
ERGON ENSEMBLE
Program
John Psathas: Songs for Simon (2010), for piano and digital audio
His Second Time | Minos | Demonic Thesis
Stephanos Nassos piano
Matre’s Dance (1991), for piano and percussion
Christos Sakellaridis piano Babis Taliadouros percussion
Dimitris Andrikopoulos: 4 Nocturnes miniatures for children (2019), for violin, cello, flute and piano
Solo for Two (2018) for percussion (Greek première)
Stratis Minakakis: Skiagraphies IV, Ajax for violin, cello, flute, clarinet and piano (World première)
Thanasis Deligyiannis: Yrieas (revision 2012) for wind septet and double bass
Calliope Tsoupaki: Thin Air (2020) for two groups of instruments (Greek première)
With its eyes set on contemporary Greek creativity, Ergon Ensemble returns to Megaron Online with the second concert entitled “The return of the Diaspora”. Ergon, which specialises in 20th and 21st century music, aims to introduce contemporary composers of Greek descent or Greek composers that are active abroad. In this joint Megaron and Ergon endeavour, members of the Ensemble will interpret the works of 16 composers in 4 concerts, the programmes of which have been assembled with geographic instead of aesthetic criteria, so that the special characteristics of each creation and the different approach of each composer becomes clear to the audience.
The repatriation of the Diaspora i:
New Worlds
10, February 2021
at Megaron Concert Hall
Conductor: Philip Augen
ERGON ENSEMBLE
Program
Christos Hatzis: Arctic Dreams I (2002) for flute, vibraphone and tape
Atonement (2012) for piano and cello European premiere
Panayiotis Kokoras: Conscious Sound (2014) for violin, cello, clarinet and piano, Greek Premiere
Crama (2006-2007) for violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, clarinet
Ηarry Stafylakis: Unrelent (2017) – sexteto European premiere –
Flows Obsidian (2019) – for 9 musicians European premiere
The first concert, The New World, focuses on the USA and Canada, and presents three composers, three aesthetic strands and six works. The programme starts with two duets by the emblematic Christos Hatzis, continues with a quartet and a quintet by Panayiotis Kokoras and concludes with an octet and a nonet by Harry Stafylakis. The concert is conducted by the french maestro Philippe Auguin.