A concert in memory of the archaeologist Petros Themelis who dedicated his life to the enhancement of Ancient Messene
Thursday 11 July | 20:30 | Ecclesiasterion of Ancient Messene
Leonidas Kavakos | violin
The Apollωn Ensemble
Noé Inui, Alexandros Sakarellos | violin
Ilias Liveratos | viola
Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin | cello
Michalis Semsis | double bass
Iason Marmaras | cembalo
Tickets on sale | Wednesday 12 June
Megaron the Athens Concert Hall in Ancient Messene with Leonidas Kavakos! The international violin star and the Apollωn Ensemble, a newly formed ensemble of leading Greek musicians of the new generation, which he himself formed (Noé Inui-violin, Alexandros Sakarellos-violin, Ilias Livieratos-viola, Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin – cello, Michalis Semsis – double bass, Iason Marmaras – cembalo), after their impressive performance in the historic Musikverein in Vienna, appear in the Ecclesiasterion of Ancient Messene. In this unique cultural venue they will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos on Thursday 11 July at 8:30 pm, creating a fascinating dialogue between the ancient Greek aesthetic and the harmony and rhythm of classical music. The four works to be performed in Ancient Messene are included in the new CD by Leonidas Kavakos and the Apollo Ensemble, recorded at the Megaron in September 2023 for Sony Classical.
Sponsor
The George and Victoria Karelias Foundation
With the support
The J.F. Kostopoulos Foundation
The concert with Leonidas Kavakos and the Apollωn Ensemble in this important landmark of ancient Greek culture (part of the Asklepieion complex, 3rd century BCE) is dedicated to the memory of the archaeologist Petros Themelis (1936-2023), with whom Megaron had already planned a first concert for the summer of 2023 that could not be realized at that time. For decades, Petros Themelis had focused his research interest on the enhancement of the city of ancient Messene, which today is one of the largest single archaeological sites in Europe, if not the world. As he writes in a note: “Ancient Messene, beyond its varied forms, hypostases and functions, is itself a three-dimensional creation in conversation with its natural environment and the global public that visits it. A prominent work of art, an evolving creation assembled from its scattered parts, gradually emerging from deep layers of soil of the dark ages, living in the present a second life that augurs eternally.”
On this enchanting evening in the heart of the Peloponnese, the audience will have the rare opportunity to enjoy four masterly orchestral compositions by the Great Cantor of Leipzig: the Violin Concertos in A minor, E major, G minor and D minor. All works were written by J. S. Bach in the first half of the 18th century and masterfully combine German and Italian styles.
Megaron the Athens Concert Hall aspires that this year’s concert by Leonidas Kavakos and the Apollωn Ensemble in the Ecclesiasterion will mark the beginning of a series of Megaron events in Ancient Messene.
The concert takes place
with the sponsorship of the George and Victoria Karelias Foundation
and with the support of the J. F. Kostopoulos Foundation
With thanks to the
Municipality of Messene for the support
the Εphorate of Antiquities of Messenia
for the permission to use the Ekklesiastirion
DIAZOMA Αssociation for the cooperation
Society of Messenean Archeological Studies
Ticket prices
20 € (students, people under 25, unemployed, large families, 65+) ● 35 € ● 60 €