Bridges series at the Athens Concert Hall 05/11/2003 - 26/05/2004 Bridges with young people, world music, and other arts. This year's cycle at the Athens Concert Hall brings the audience close to the artistic creation of Zulfu Livaneli, Dulce Pontes, Chronis Áidonidis, Orlando Valle and Dino Saluzzi. Also, Bridges present the stunning balalaikas by the Andreyev Russian Imperial Orchestra, guitar works and the famous Derevo Theatre Company. Here is the programme of the performances: November 5 (2003) A Tribute to Zulfu Livaneli Vocalist Maria Farandouri performs Livaneli's New Age Rhapsody and songs. Soloists from Greece and Turkey, as well as the Volos Symphony Orchestra, participate. Conductor is Semyon Kogan. December 11 (2003) Dulce Pontes in concert The famous Portuguese vocalist of fados and her ensemble. December 14 (2003) Balalaikas: The Andreyev Russian Imperial Orchestra A festive Christmas event. Soloist in saxophone is Theodore Kerkezos. December 15 (2003) Melos Brass wind ensemble in concert A festive Christmas event. The organist Nicolas Kynaston participates. December 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 (2003) Music tales Periklis Koukos: Merlin the Wizard on Poetry Island. A festive Christmas event, a musical extravaganza. The Camerata- Friends of Music Orchestra conducted by Alexandros Myrat participates. January 22 (2004) Guitar Festival The soloists John Williams and Kostas Kotsiolis interpret works by Guiliani and Brouwer. The Camerata - Friends of Music Orchestra conducted by Leo Brouwer participates. The artistic supervision is by Kostas Kotsiolis. February 4 & 5 (2004) Ensemble Accentus conducted by Thomas Wimmer. February 6 (2004) Guitar Horizons Works by Brouwer, Rodrigo, Takemitsu, Papageorgiou are performed by the soloists Kostas Kotsiolis, Eduardo Fernandez, Sinitchi Fukuda. The Athens State Orchestra participates conducted by Leo Brouwer. Date pending Chronis Aidonidis: 50 years dedicated to Greek tradition February 20, 21 (2004) Derevo Theatre Company presents the play Once Upon a Time It's a tale of love, tears and broken hearts enacted by clowns. March 1 (2004) Orlando Valle in concert The famous Cuban flute virtuoso along with the Maraca - Otra Vision ensemble. March 9 (2004) Serenades and music from the Ionian Islands Music programme in collaboration with the Ionian University. May 26 (2004) Dino Saluzzi & the Rosamunde String Quartet Between folk music, jazz and tango: chamber music for string quartet and bandoneon played by the soloist Dino Saluzzi. Athens Concert Hall The inspiration for a multifunctional culture centre can be traced back to the renowned soprano Alexandra Triandi, who founded the the Friends of Music Society. The society then commissioned some top Greek and foreign architects and sound experts to design the Athens Concert Hall. In 1956 the Greek government donated a site for its construction. It should be noted that the first monies towards erecting the building came from Dimitris Mitropoulos, who donated the proceeds from the New York Philharmonic's Athens recitals, which he conducted. The design was completed in the 1970s. The building's foundations were laid following a much needed donation, which covered the project's financing, by the great benefactor and president of the Dekozis-Vouros Foundation, Mr Lambros Eftaxias. After a hiatus of some years, construction resumed in 1981. A new governing body was formed, this time with the cooperation of the Greek government, which, through a number of substantial donations, contributed considerably towards completion of the project. This new body is the the Athens Concert Hall Organisation, which has been jointly governed from 1981 to the present day by representatives of the Friends of Music Society and the state. Since it opened its doors to the public in 1991, the Athens Concert Hall has been regarded as one of the most comprehensive culture centres in Europe. Its superb acoustics has been acclaimed both by the public and by renowned performers of the music and art world.The Athens Concert Hall haswelcomed and still welcomes top class artists, music ensembles, composers, conductors and performers in an artistic trajectory that has left its mark in the country's culture scene. Author : www.travelling-greece.com