Singular in its kind, the Patmos Sacred Music Festival takes place for the 14thyear running in the outdoor area of the Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse from 29 August till 3 September 2014.
This is a special occasion which combines artistic excellence with performances of high musical and spiritual content. In its 14-year-long history the Patmos Sacred Music Festival has presented a vast number of artists and many of the most beautiful works of both orthodox and catholic tradition.
This year’s programme is particularly rich in content. It includes a special concert tribute to two great Greek artists, Domenicus Theotokopoulos (400th death anniversary) and Manos Hadjidakis (20thdeath anniversary) while in the centre of the festival are song concerts based on religious tradition but also Byzantine hymns, post-Byzantine and contemporary repertory of the sacred art of chant.
The Patmos Sacred Music Festival is directed by composer Alkis Baltas and organized by the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Patmos.
The island of the Apocalypse invites you to enjoy its rich natural surroundings, the singularity of the Sacred Cave area and the Sacred Music Festival events.
PROGRAMME
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
“Saint Andrew of Crete” – The Union of Chanters’ Chorus from Heraklion Prefecture Conductor : Michalis Stroumbakis,Assistant Professor of Historical Byzantine Musicology at the Ecclesiastical Academy of Heraklion Crete.
The Choir often performs Byzantine, post-Byzantine, and contemporary hymns, with emphasis on Cretan and Constantinople chanting tradition.
The concert program includes:
• Hymns for the celebration of the feast day of St. Andrew of Crete, the Union’s Patron
• Hymns for the celebration of the feast day of St. John the Theologian.
• Hymns by Cretan music masters
SATURDAY, AUGUST 30
Two great Greeks : Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) and Manos Hadjidakis
The Patmos Festival Orchestra conducted by Alkis Baltas
Soloist : Vassilis Gisdakis (song )
The concert is dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the death of El Greco and the 20th anniversary of the death of the famous Greek composer and song writer Manos Hadjidakis.
The concert has two parts:
• The first part includes video projection of religious works by the great Greek painter, while the orchestra performs classical pieces. Brief texts concerning the life of El Greco will be recited in Greek and English.
• The second part includes video projection of Manos Hadjidakis’ photographs, along with texts about his life and work. Vassilis Gisdakis, a close associate of the composer, will perform excerpts from the song cycle “At the Roman Agora” orchestrated by Vicky Stylianou .
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
Greek singer Pantelis Thalassinos – Concert dedicated to the Environmental Day
The well known singer will perform Greek songs whose lyrics refer to Nature, with the participation of singer Nana Binopoulou. The singers will beaccompanied by an instrumental ensemble (lute, bouzouki, violin, percussion, bagpipes, tsambouna, piano, double bass)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
“The Gold Rush”
In the frame of the Festival, a special event appealing to all audiences.
The legendary silent movie by Charlie Chaplin, with piano accompaniment by Andreas Zafiropoulos, who will perform well known pieces, and will also improvise.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
The Passion of Joan of Arc
One of the most famous silent movies directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer (1928) with original music especially composed for the film by Yannis Sfyris, performed by 4 musicians and 6 members of the “Eklipsis” vocal ensemble conducted by Matthew Legakis.
The fascinating story of Joan of Arc, a young virgin who led the armies of France to several key victories over the English during the Hundred Years War.
Joan was considered by the French soldiers as a holy woman sent by God to help her country. Finally, in 1429, she was captured by the English , and tried by a court of the Roman Catholic Church. She was accused of witchcraft and heresy and sentenced to be burned alive.
Pope Benedict XV declared her a saint in 1920.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Corfu Children’s Choir
Conductor : Christina Kalliaridou
“Corfu Children’s Choir”, an outstanding vocal ensemble with extremely rich activity, will perform choral works from Corfu, Greece and many other parts of the world, which have sacred inspiration.
Some of the songs are traditional, others are classical. The texts are in Greek, Latin, English and French.
For more information: www.patmosfestival.gr
Dates: 29/08/2014 – 03/09/2014.
Place: Patmos, the Dodecanese, Greece
Area: Outdoor area of the Sacred Cave of the Apocalypse
All events start at 20:30
Admission free
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