Periklis Koukos (Athens, 1960) is one of those gifted composers who move with ease between different musical worlds. His rich and multifaceted œuvre brings together the expanded tonality of contemporary European currents with a tonal, modal language encountered in his operas and theatre music. Rhythm and vocal line take centre stage: words shape the musical phrase, and melody often unfolds from the very prosody of the poetic text.
Sinfonietta (A Byzantine Tale) approaches Byzantine tradition creatively, using it as a point of reference for the character and motion of the melody without any intention of imitation. Four Songs of Ionian Poets (to poetry by Angelos Sikelianos and Tilemachos Chytiris) and the cycle Sketches for a Summer (to verses by Giorgos Seferis) highlight the composer’s close relationship with Greek poetry: the voice remains clear and expressive, while the piano acts as an equal bearer of meaning. Suite No. 4 from the scenic cantata Diary for Passers-by at the End of the Century brings to the fore the theatrical dimension of Koukos’s writing: short sections, vivid imagery, and a clear dramatic direction.
In mezzo-soprano Mary Ellen Neẕi and pianist Dimitris Koukos, the works find two ideal interpreters.
Co-production
Athens Philharmonia Orchestra
Megaron – The Athens Concert Hall
