Monday 24 July 2023

Those of us present at the Theatre of Ancient Messene on Monday 24 July 2023 for the joint chamber music concert by the winners of the “We Listen to the Young 2023” competition witnessed a rare and memorable experience. The concert was organised by the Kalogeropouleio Foundation of Corinth in collaboration with the association DIAZOMA.

Arieta Liatsi (violin), Maria-Elli Petridou (cello), and Angeliki Giannopoulos (piano) performed Brahms’ Third Piano Trio and the second movement of Schubert’s Piano Trio Op. 100 with remarkable maturity. They then joined the acclaimed Nikos Mandylas (violin) and Ilias Sdoukos (viola) in the thrilling Dvořák Piano Quintet, Op. 81.

Both the performances of the artists and the singular atmosphere of the ancient theatre combined to create an unforgettable evening, leaving us deeply moved and full of anticipation for future concerts in places of rare beauty and exceptional cultural significance, such as the ancient theatres of Greece.

The “We Listen to the Young 2023” programme is an innovative initiative aimed at identifying and supporting talented young musicians by securing multiple concert engagements and recording opportunities for them. It is the result of an alliance of cultural forces: Fondation Kaloy, the association DIAZOMA, the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron), and the Third Programme of ERT(Hellenic Radio and Television). It is realised with the financial support of its corporate members: the Kapetan Vasilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation, VINCI Group, the Fourlis Family, and the association DIAZOMA.

This logistically demanding concert at the Theatre of Ancient Messene could not have taken place without the support of the Region of the Peloponnese, the Municipality of Messene, the Ephorate of Antiquities of Messenia, the association Mousiki Kinisi (which kindly provided the piano), and the invaluable assistance of the Director of the Kalamata Municipal Conservatoire, Mr Stathis Gyftakis – to all of whom we extend our warmest thanks.

As part of the “We Listen to the Young 2023” programme, two further piano recitals by Angeliki Giannopoulos will follow: on 30 July at 18:00 at the Kalamata Municipal Conservatoire, in collaboration with the 7th International Music Days of Kalamata; and on 2 August at 21:00 at Eleistria, in collaboration with the Koroni Festival, at a venue of interest to the Kapetan Vasilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation.

Interview with competition winner Maria-Elli Petridou on ERT’s Third Programme (25 July 2023): ertecho.gr