The Athens State Orchestra returns to the Benaki Museum with this year’s chamber music cycle “Musical walks through Museums”, as continuation of their long time cooperation.

Four concerts of the musical ensembles of the A.S.O. will take place at the four buildings of the Benaki Museum, buildings which host different collections and events. Just before the concerts, curators of the Benaki Museum will offer visitors the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the collections through themed guided tours.

19:30
Guided tour to N. Hadjikyriakos-Ghika's house and atelie will be carried out by Constantinos Papachristou, curator of Ghika Gallery.

20:30 Black Earth

Two instruments set out on a journey somewhere in southern Europe. Wandering the length of the Mediterranean, they press on until they are in the very heart of Jewish music. In each new country they visit, they encounter sounds, melodies, traditions and a unique history which inspires its composers to create works with the aroma and colour of their homeland—from flamenco and the lullabies of Andalucía to the Balkan rhythms of Romanian dances, and from the fire in the gypsy soul to Turkey’s “black earth” laments.

MANUEL DE FALLA (1876-1946)
Popular Spanish suite
MAURICE RAVEL (1875-1937)
Tzigane
BÉLA BARTOK (1881-1945)
Six Rumanian dances
MAURICE RAVEL
Alborada del gracioso [The jester’s morning song] from the Miroirs [Mirrors] collection for piano
ERNST BLOCH (1880-1959)
Baal Shem Suite for violin and piano
FAZIL SAY (b. 1970)
Black Earth for piano

SOLISTS
Laertes Kokolanis, violin
Eleni Dafeka, piano