8th Kalamata International Music Days

From August 26th to September 10th, 2024, the international festival "International Music Days of Kalamata" takes place. It is one of the largest and longest-running classical and jazz music festivals in the region. With a diverse concert programme, masterclasses and events that combine different arts, Kalamata becomes, once again this year, the ultimate music and concert destination.

The 8th edition of the festival "embraces" the concept of pluralism, focuses on musical contrasts and creates the right conditions for the exchange of artistic ideas. The pairing of instrumental and vocal ensembles, the contrast of musical genres and traditions, and the collaboration of musicians who, under other circumstances, would be unlikely to meet emphasise the universality of the musical language and aim to shape new shared experiences between artists and audiences.

The festival begins with the established piano and violin masterclasses with Alexia Mouza and Felix Froschhammer, respectively, scheduled for August 26th–31st, 2024. On August 28th, the two professors will share the stage for a joint recital at the Municipal Conservatory Kalamata. Both masterclasses will close with a joint concert of their participants on August 31st.

Within the framework of the Ministry of Culture's institution, "All Greece is one culture," which this year focuses on the concept of Conflict, the performance "Snowmen" will take place at the Ancient Theatre of Messina on August 29th and 30th." Snowmen is a play for two narrators and a four-member instrumental ensemble to original music by Stathis Gyftakis. This is a production of Mission Art AMKE.

On September 1st, internationally renowned cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras will present a solo cello recital at the Church of Ancient Messina, an awe-inspiring sacred site. At the same time, from September 1st to 6th, a cello masterclass with Jean-Guihen Queyras will be organised at the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata. The final concert of the masterclass will take place on September 5th.

The famous Spiral Trio, based in Athens, which embodies the finest version of modern Greek jazz music, will reappear on September 2nd at the studio of the Kalamata Dance Megaron at the festival to present its new compositions, which will also form the material of the group's upcoming third album.

The international Caerus Chamber Ensemble, consisting of Ionian Elias Candesa, Pablo Hernán Benedí, Lily Francis, Vashti Hunter and Noam Greenberg, will travel to Kalamata for a series of three concerts. During these concerts, they will share the stage of the Kalamata Dance Megaron with the Kalamatian traditional musicians Nikolas Palaiologos and Diotima Spanidea, with the Kalamatian Women's Vocal Ensemble "Melifono," and other artists.

A joint violin, viola and chamber music masterclass with teachers Ionian Ilias Candesa and Pablo Hernán Benedí and a piano masterclass with Noam Greenberg will take place from September 1st to 8th. Both masterclasses will close with a joint concert of their participants at the Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 8th.

Established events and concert series of the festival that will continue their tradition during the 8th edition are, among others, the "Silent Film Night" and the "Young Talents in Concert" series. This year's screening, being held in collaboration with the "Filmhouse"-New Kalamata Cinema Club, will feature a triptych of Buster Keaton's short films to the clever musical accompaniment of the Kalamata-based Moving Band. The screening will take place at the Municipal Railway Park on September 4th. As for the second series of concerts, on September 9th in the studio of the Kalamata Dance Megaron, cellist Melinda Konstantinidou and guitarists Konstantina Malapani and Akis Sipsas will appear – all graduates of the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata. The work "Arias & Imaginary Dance" for cello and two guitars, Op.117 by Stathis Gyftakis will be presented in a world premiere during this concert. Another established activity of the festival is the conducting masterclass with Joshua Weilerstein, which, this year, will start on September 6th and close with its participants' final concert at the Kalamata Dance Megaron on September 10th.

Last but not least, the 8th festival "dares" to close its series of concerts this time with something completely different from classical music: New York-based Lau Noah, embodying the last word of independent contemporary songwriting, will appear in a solo concert for the first time in the Greek public on September 10th at the Kalamata Dance Megaron.

Finally, all masterclasses will take place at the Municipal Conservatory and the Kalamata Philharmonic Amphitheatre. Attendance at all masterclasses is free for the public.

The festival was founded by cellist Indira Rahmatulla, who has taken over the Artistic Direction, composer and Artistic Director of the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata, Stathis Gyftakis, and cellist Dimitris Lambos.

The festival is organised by the Municipality of Kalamata, the Non-profit Enterprise FARIS of the Municipality of Kalamata, the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata and the Association of Parents and Guardians of the Students and Friends of the Municipal Art Schools of Kalamata "TERPSIS". It is under the sponsorship and auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Region of Peloponnese.

2024 CONCERT SCHEDULE

Wednesday 28.08.2024 at 20:00, Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata – ADMISSION 10/5 €

Love triangle

Music by Brahms and Schumann

Alexia Mouza – piano & Felix Froschhammer – violin

Thursday, 29.08.2024 & Friday, 30.08.2024, at 21:00, Ancient Theater of Messina – ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE admission free

Snowmen

Mythical account of an eternal conflict

Original music by Stathis Gyftakis

The production takes place within the framework of the 2024 program of the Ministry of Culture institution "All Greece is one culture".

www.allofgreeceoneculture.gr

Saturday 31.08.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – admission free

Concert of violin and piano student masterclasses

Sunday 01.09.2024 at 20:00, Church of Ancient Messina - admission free

Queyras SOLO

Cello works by Bach, Saygun, Barriere and Kodály

Monday 02.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – ADMISSION 10/5 €

New Turn

New compositions by the Spiral Jazz Trio

Tuesday 03.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Hall – ADMISSION 10/5 €

Antitheses

Caerus Ensemble & Nikolas Paleologos

Wednesday 04.09.2024 at 20:30, Municipal Railway Park – admission free

Buster Keaton movies

With musical accompaniment by the Moving Band

Thursday 05.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – admission free

Concert of cello masterclass students

Friday 06.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Hall – ADMISSION 10/5 €

Suite Case

Caerus Ensemble & Melophone

Saturday 07.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – ADMISSION 10/5 €

Poepic

Caerus Ensemble & co.

Sunday 08.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – admission free

Concert of piano, string & chamber music student masterclasses

Monday 09.09.2024 at 20:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – admission free

Young talents in concert - Works for guitar & cello

Melinda Konstantinidou – cello

Konstantina Malapani – guitar

Akis Sipsas – guitar

Tuesday 10.09.2024 at 19:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – admission free

Conducting masterclass student concert

Tuesday 10.09.2024 at 21:00, Kalamata Dance Megaron – ADMISSION 10/5 €

Lau Noah in concert

Original compositions for guitar and voice

Special thanks go to the George and Victoria Karelia Foundation, which has been the Major Sponsor of the festival almost since its birth.

Thanks are also expressed to the Captain Vassilis and Carmen Konstantakopoulos Foundation for the financial support of the masterclasses and the "Friends of Kalamata Music" Association for granting four scholarships for the participation of students of the Primary Conservatory and the "Maria Callas" Music School of Kalamata.