Maria Christara
President of Fondation Kaloy
There are certain evenings when Art decides to reveal its most spellbinding face, far from the spotlight of mass entertainment. Those who were in Xylokastro yesterday lived through just such a rare experience. At a moment when most people’s attention was fixed on sporting events, the glamour of Eurovision, and the unpredictable moods of spring weather, a small, select few had the privilege of experiencing something truly heavenly.
Xylokastro welcomed a choir of world-class calibre, made up of students from the University of Nuremberg – one of the top seven academic institutions in the world for training tomorrow’s music teachers.
A Private Mystagogy for the Lucky Few
The small turnout, rather than working against the evening, became its greatest asset. The event immediately took on the character of a “private concert,” an exclusive experience for those fortunate enough to attend.
Twenty-five young voices, in perfect synchrony and with technique of the highest calibre, wove together a deeply moving programme full of church hymns and sacred songs. Their voices, full of clarity and passion, resonated through the space, carrying the audience on a spiritual journey. The same was true of the beautifully tuned wind quintet.
These choirs don’t fill stadiums, they fill souls! – this was the feeling that prevailed among those present, proving that true art is not measured by ticket numbers, but by the depth of emotion it stirs.
“Exultation” and the Bridge of Classical Music
The quality of the event was vividly captured in the words of Deputy Mayor Mr. Londos, who, following his recent active presence at other cultural events in the region, publicly stated that he felt a deep sense of “exultation.”
This is precisely the ultimate purpose of such events: for top, initiated musicians to become the bridge that draws into the dreamlike world of classical music people who may not have the corresponding specialised education, but who possess the sensitivity to feel it.
A Hospitality That Gives Birth to the Future
The young choir members from Nuremberg expressed their enthusiasm for the rich and warm hospitality of the organisers. The modest audience turnout did not discourage them in the slightest – on the contrary, they received the audience’s absolute attention and warm applause, feeling a genuine connection with them.
Warm congratulations are due to the Municipality of Xylokastro-Evrostini and to everyone who worked tirelessly for the flawless organisation of this demanding evening. The impeccable hospitality of a gracious place that knows how to care for its guests without excess also brought the most hopeful message of all: a commitment that this important collaboration will continue in the future with even greater warmth, opening new cultural horizons for the city.
Xylokastro proved yesterday that when the weather and everyday life insist on the “mundane,” culture can carry us… to the heavens.
