This summer, the Philharmonia Orchestra of Athens presents a symphonic concert in Patras that combines artistic excellence with symbolic significance, bringing together the great Russian musical tradition and contemporary Greek creativity while paying tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the Achaean capital. The concert is part of the International Patras Festival and will take place at the Patras Municipal Open-Air Theatre.
The programme honours three distinguished composers of the Soviet era, highlighting the enduring legacy of their work within the broader tradition of Russian classical music. At its heart are Dmitri Shostakovich’s much-loved String Quartet No. 8, performed in a chamber orchestra arrangement by the late Greek composer Kostas Nikitas, alongside Sergei Prokofiev’s celebrated Classical Symphony.
Completing the programme is Reinhold Glière’s Concerto for Soprano and Orchestra, a work by a composer less familiar to wider audiences but equally significant within the musical landscape of his time. Together, these compositions trace the evolution of the great Russian school established in the early nineteenth century by composers such as Tchaikovsky, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Borodin and many others.
The evening also carries a special local dimension, as the orchestra pays tribute to the city of Patras and its own remarkable musical heritage. For this occasion, it collaborates with internationally acclaimed soprano Vassiliki Karayanni, who was born in Patras.
Karayanni will appear as soloist in both Glière’s concerto and a cycle of four remarkable songs by fellow Patras-born composer Dimitrios Lialios. Lialios’ music was rediscovered only a few years ago through the research and musical editing of Philharmonia Orchestra’s Artistic Director and conductor of the concert, Byron Fidetzis, who played a decisive role in bringing these long-forgotten works back to the concert stage.
Bringing together different musical worlds and historical traditions, the concert celebrates the enduring power of symphonic music while offering audiences in Patras an evening of exceptional artistic quality.
