Libertango: A music journey to Spain, Greece and Latin America

Five renowned, talented Cypriot musicians came together to take us on a music journey that will begin in Spain, will pass through Greece and will end in Latin America. The concert will take place at Markideio Theatre, on Wednesday, 30th of September, at 8:30 pm. 

The mediterranean passion is highlighted through the music of the works "Spanish dance la Vida Breve" by Manuel de Falla and "Carmen" by George Bizet, while the Greek aroma is evoked through a suite from the "Giogonda’s smile" by Manos Hadjidakis. Finally, we find the same strong emotions in Latin America, through the wonderful tangos “Libetango” by Astor Piazzolla and the “Por una cabeza” by Carlos Gardel,. The public will also have the opportunity to enjoy the world premiere of the work ‘Wandering for five’, by Neoklis Neophytides.

On the stage, for only one concert that will be presented in Paphos, the following musicians will perform: Savvas Christodoulou (flute), Nikos Pittas (violin), Nicos Ioannou (double bass), Marios Nikolaou (percussion) and Manolis Neophytou (piano).

Programme:

Manuel de Falla, La vida breve 

Georges Bizet, Selections from ‘Carmen’ 

Ernesto Lecuona, Malaguena 

Manos Hajdidakis, Suite on Giogonda’s smile 

Neoklis Neofytides, Wondering for five 

Astor Piazzolla, Adios Nonino, Nightclub, Bordel, Libertango 

Carlos Gardel, Por una cabeza

The production takes all the necessary precautions and follows the instructions announced by the government, in order to ensure your health and safety

Entrance: €15/ €10 (students)

ONLY with presales. Tickets available at Technopolis 20 art centre. 

A ticket office will NOT OPERATE on the night of the event.

Opening hours: Monday - Saturday, 9am - 1pm

Information: 70002420

Organiser: Technopolis 20

Co-organiser: Municipality of Paphos

Sponsor: Deputy Ministry of Tourism

A few words about the musicians

Savvas Christodoulou (flute): was born in Limassol where he began his musical studies at a young age. In 2005 he moved to Prague to study flute performance at the Prague National Conservatory from where he graduated in 2010. In the same year he was accepted at the Utrecht Conservatory to study with the world-famous flute soloist Aldo Baerten. During his time as a student, he was a member of the Conservatoire Symphony Orchestras in both Prague and Utrecht. He obtained his bachelor’s degree on flute performance and education with honors in 2012. In addition, he studied the piccolo with Gudrun Bourel and Baroque performance with the internationally renowned baroque flute specialist Wilbert Hazelzet. In 2015 he obtained his master’s degree in flute performance on stages. He participated in several Masterclasses worldwide with famous flutists such as Sir James Galway, Emmanuel Pahud, W.Bennett, P.L. Graf, M. Bellavance, S.Milan, D.Bouriakov and others. Alongside his teaching engagements at the Pafos and Limassol Music Lyceums, Savvas enjoys a performing career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. He appears regularly in flute recitals and chamber music concerts in The Netherlands, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece and Cyprus. He is a guest member of Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and he appears regularly with the Commandaria Orchestra. Savvas is also the founder of the Cyprus-based Quintus Wind Quintet and a member of the Ensemble Cyclamen.

Nikos Pittas holds two Diplonas from Ethnikon Odeon of Cyprus, an LRSM Certificate, BM, MM, and GPD degrees from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University. He has received various scholarships and Awards. He has won several competitions and has performed Recitals in Cyprus, Greece, USA, Spain, Norway, Germany, Austria, France, etc. He appeared as a member and a soloist with the European Union Chamber Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic, Cyprus State Orchestra, Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Alexandria Symphony, Orquesta Simfonica de Castilla y Leon, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Pharos Soloists and Ledra Music Soloists. He is currently a principal member of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and a violin professor at the Cyprus Youth Orchestra.

Marios Nikolaou (percussions) was born in Limassol in 1974. He studied at the Athens Conservatory with D. Marinakis and at the Hochschule für Music Cologne with C. Caskel, C. Tarcha. He was a fellow of the Athens Concert Hall (scholarship "Alexandra Trianti"). Since May 2015 he is a top A in drums with the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with most Greek Orchestras (K.O.A, E. R. T., Kamerata, Orchestra of Colors, Soloists of Patras). As a soloist with SOK he performed concerts by A. Panufnik, D. Milhaud and N. Skalkotas and G. Druschetzky. He has given personal recitals and has collaborated with ensembles and conductors such as: H. Lachenmann, P. Eötvös, D. Bouliane, F. Ollu, K. De Roo, T. Antoniou, Ensemble Neue Music Köln, Ensemble of Greek Composers and ensemble dissonArt and the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble. Marios has been a member of the Ergon Ensemble since 2009. Since 2006 he has been teaching at the music workshop of S.O.N.K, at the Music Lyceums and at the tertiary Music Academy ARTE.

Nikos Ioannou took his first musical steps at the age of 7 on classical guitar where he later obtained a degree. At the age of 15 he started contrabass lessons. He was a member of the Cyprus State Youth Orchestra for 4 years. He studied double bass at the Athens Conservatory and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he graduated. Holds the Diploma of Teaching and Soloist of the Athens Conservatory with the grade Excellent and the LGSMD title of Guildhall School of Music and Drama with the grade Excellent. He was a member of the Agreement. Rethymnon Orchestra of Crete, of Symf. Piraeus Orchestra and collaborated several times with the Symphony. ERT Orchestra and the Orchestra of Colors. Since 1999 he holds the position of the Leader in the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. He also collaborates with the ensemble "Cyprus Chamber Orchestra" and is a member of the ensemble "Tiempos Viechos".  From 1999 until today he teaches double bass in the music workshop of Symf. Cyprus Youth Orchestra. In the past he taught at the Music High School of Nicosia from the day of its foundation and for 10 years, from 2017 to 2019 he taught at the European University, as well as for a series of 5 years (2005-2010) he taught at the University of Nicosia.

Manolis Neophytou holds a Bachelor of Music (Honours) Degree in Performance from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatoire, where he studied with Prof. Irina Plotnikova and Prof. Arkadii Sevidov, with a scholarship from Nicolas Economou Foundation. He also studied in Ecole Normale in Paris with a scholarship from the Albert Russel Foundation. He has obtained his Masters in Piano Performance from the University of London with a scholarship from the State Scholarships Foundation of Greece (I.K.Y.). Manolis represented Cyprus at the Eurovision Classical Contests in Brussels (1992), Warsaw (1994) and Lisbon (1996) after winning the Cyprus National Competitions for young musicians. He has received prizes in several piano competitions: the Fourth Prize at Senegallia International Piano Competition (Italy, 1994), the First Prize at the Inter-Mediterranean Music Festival (Palermo, Italy, 1995) and the Second Prize at the Giorgos Thimis Piano Competition (Megaron Mousikis of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2002). His performance activities include solo recitals and concerts in Greece, Russia, Poland, Italy, France, Ireland, U.K., Korea, South Africa and Cyprus. He is currently teaching piano at the Music Lyceum in Limassol and the European University of Cyprus.

Neoklis Neofytides: Cypriot composer, pianist and orchestrator. Since 1996 he lives and works in Athens. Graduated in piano and theory with professor Petros Christodoulidis. Studies in violin (Grade 8, Royal College of music) with Panagiotis Stylianou. He was, as a violinist, a member of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 he graduated with honors from the Department of Music Studies of the University of Athens. He collaborates as a pianist and orchestrator with important composers and singers of the Greek music scene. His constantly collaborates with Stavros Xarchakos and Christos Leontis, in concerts, performances and recordings. He has recorded many of his songs and he has participated as a composer and orchestrator in many recordings. He has also participated as a pianist and orchestrator in several discographic works and musical performances, musical tributes to composers and poets. He is a member of the music group Varyavlos III (2 bassoons and piano). He has written music for plays, documentaries and short films, etc. His wider composition includes works: for solo piano, solo winds, woodwind and brass quintet, for quartet and string quintet, for various mixed ensembles and strings, symphony orchestra, choirs, songs-melodic poetry etc.