What happened at Piano City 2024

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, the opening of Piano City Athens 2024 was marked by a recital from the exceptional pianist Manos Kitsikopoulos at the residence of the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Andreas Kindl and Dr. Ina Weinrautner. The event was attended by distinguished personalities from the business and artistic worlds as well as numerous journalists who honored the occasion with their presence.
Following this, the pianists of Alpha Conservatory adorned America Square with their melodies, pleasantly surprising residents and passersby.
The healing power of music was showcased through Antonis Palamaris’ concert at Henry Dunant Hospital, while Eva Tsangla Manolaraki gave a unique piano recital at PEGKAP-NY.
Departures from D.A.A. “Eleftherios Venizelos” were accompanied by waltz rhythms, with Elias Kaloudis at the piano and Anna Athanasiadi’s choreographies.
Melodies from the Museum of History of the University of Athens, played by Stathis Aninos and Thanasis Parmenidis, filled the Plaka neighborhood. Meanwhile, under the Acropolis, on Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian street, the Small String Orchestra of the Athens State Orchestra accompanied Giorgos Georgakopoulos on the piano on Sunday morning. That same afternoon, 3 piano recitals by Yiannis Belonis enchanted passersby with the rhythms of Mikis Theodorakis.
Beyond music, Piano City Athens 2024 honored the 7th Art. Famous melodies through the evolution of cinema were presented with humor by pianist Markos Kotsias in Lavrio.
The magic of theater was celebrated at the Golden Hall by “The Magic of Musicals,” featuring a journey through musical theater melodies from Broadway to the West End and Hollywood, delved into tales of passion and love, encountering ghosts that haunt operas, guided by the classical soprano Denia Leventi and Fotis Mantzaridis on the piano.
The sky over Athens shone for two nights, at Pedion tou Areos and The Ellinikon Experience Park! “Cosmos” Laser Show & Piano, by the acclaimed artist Victor. Live piano performances accompanied electronic music melodies, creating a spectacular choreography of lasers and lights.
While enjoying the sunset and the view of Athens, we also enjoyed Victoria Kiazimi’s “Sunset Concert” on Lycabettus Hill, followed by Martin Listabarth’s jazz rhythms.
Visitors to the National Garden experienced two different concerts, one by Amiran Zeniahsvilli taking us on a classical journey, and those who missed Martin Listabarth’s jazz explorations the previous night at Lycabettus had another opportunity to enjoy him in Athens’ central park.
At the National Bank of Greece Cultural Foundation, Stavros Lantsias delivered a heartfelt performance, while NJV Athens Plaza hosted the melodies of Konstantinos Destounis.
Romanticism broke the barriers of everyday life’s routine with Nefeli Mousoura’s “Romantic Concert” at the Marathon Dam. The element of water was also prominent at the B&E Goulandris Foundation, where 7 pianists took us on a journey of “The Harmony of the Waves.”
Back at The Ellinikon Experience Park, another original musical fusion took place. “Piano & Hip Hop” by Elias Kaloudis and Fotis Ketsetzis on the piano, and the dance group #DOSrs choreographed by Anna Athanasiadi and Eleni Kyriakidi.
Piano City Athens 2024 also offered educational opportunities. Children explored the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, learning how the ancient hydraulis led to the piano.
Christine Tokatlian conducted a unique piano masterclass for the second year at the Deree – The American College of Greece, where seven delightful concerts were also held.
Musicians with a passion for the piano opened their homes to the public, offering extraordinary House Concerts, creating a magical experience for both artists and audiences. In no other form of concert do audience and artist forge such close connections.
Professors and students from conservatories welcomed us into their spaces, offering unique piano concerts. The notes of the piano blended with string and wind instruments, and sometimes enchanting voices, proving that the titles of “artist” and “talent” are not defined by age or stage experience.
In addition to the 100 free piano concerts, three Special Events, where tickets were required, were enjoyed. The beloved hero Karagiozis learned to play the piano for Veziropoula, guided by the Kostas Makris troupe of the Shadow Theater and Stavros Xiouras on the piano at the Plyfa Multipurpose Space. In the same venue, Bob Wilson’s dancer and choreographer, Marianna Kavallieratos, met pianist Thodoris Oikonomou and the audience in a three-hour improvisational music and dance dialogue.
The curtain fell on Piano City Athens 2024 at the Parnassos Literary Society. The perfect outro for this unique five-day event was none other than Simeon Ten Hold’s “Canto Ostinato.” Five exceptional musicians, pianist Titos Gouvelis, composer and improviser Thodoris Oikonomou, accordionist Konstantinos Raptis, harpist Maria Christina Harper, and classical percussionist Andreas Farmakis, embarked on a journey of exploring this iconic musical work, which was met with absolute success.
Artists, musicians, and dancers offered mesmerizing shows in every corner of the city and were met with enthusiastic applause from the audience who enjoyed them!