MAIN ACT | KORMOS

Kormos is the new album by Tasos Kofodimos (Greece) and Yvonne Melissa (Greece) created in collaboration with Mahyar Tahmasbi (Iran) and Laia Escartin (Catalunya). The work consists of eight composed pieces and one free improvisation, written for a specially designed chamber ensemble of four string instruments: violin, viola, cello, and the Greek steriano lute.

Each piece is inspired by a different tree, drawing on its mythology, geomorphology, physical characteristics, and the folk beliefs associated with it. The title Kormos (Κορμός, meaning tree trunk in Greek) reflects both the conceptual core of the project and the organic nature of the wooden string instruments at its heart.

The ensemble brings together musicians from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, forming a rich and distinctive musical mosaic. Kofodimos and Melissa are active figures in the contemporary Greek music scene; they released their first duo album Myrra in 2023 and have performed extensively in Greece and abroad. For Kormos, they are joined by Laia Escartin, a Catalan violist, singer, and composer, and Mahyar Tahmasbi, a renowned Iranian cellist and sitar player specializing in Persian classical music.

The musical language of Kormos blends elements of Greek traditional music, the wider Eastern Mediterranean, Persian musical traditions, gypsy jazz, and the formal structures of a classical string quartet. On the recordings, the ensemble expands into a quintet with the addition of Greek double bassist, composer, and improviser Thodoris Ziarkas, and features two distinguished guests: Kudsi Erguner, internationally renowned ney master and UNESCO Artist for Peace (2016), and Andreas Polyzogopoulos, a leading figure on the international jazz scene on trumpet.

Tasos Kofodimos – lute, composition
Yvonne Melissa – violin, composition
Laia Escartin – viola
Mahyar Tahmasbi – cello

OPENING ACT | MELISMA PIANO DUO

An evening of four-hand piano music that explores how folk traditions, dance and storytelling have inspired composers across time and cultures. From the Norwegian landscapes of Grieg to the refined intimacy of Fauré, the rhythmic energy of Dvořák and Brahms and the inventive sound world of Ligeti, this programme offers a journey through different musical worlds.

Melisma Piano Duo is a Greek piano duo focusing on repertoire for piano four hands and two pianos, ranging from classical and romantic works to folk-inspired and contemporary music. The duo has a particular interest in exploring the connections between classical repertoire and traditional musical cultures, and has performed in Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain. An evening of four-hand piano music that explores how folk traditions, dance and storytelling have inspired composers across time and cultures. From the Norwegian landscapes of Grieg to the refined intimacy of Fauré, the rhythmic energy of Dvořák and Brahms and the inventive sound world of Ligeti, this programme offers a journey through different musical worlds.

Evelina Argyrou is a Greek pianist and Master's graduate in Piano Performance from HKU Utrechts Conservatorium. She received the 2021 Emir Steyerberg Prize after her Bachelor's graduation with highest distinction.She has performed at venues such as TivoliVredenburg, Megaron Athens Concert Hall, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center and Institut français d'Athènes, and at festivals including PianoFestival Rotterdam and MusicAlp. She has appeared with the Utrecht Conservatory Orchestra and has participated in masterclasses with pianists including Nikolai Lugansky and Paavali Jumppanen.

Alexandros Chouros is a Greek pianist and Master's graduate in Piano Performance from HKU Utrechts Conservatorium. He has appeared as a soloist with the Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra and has collaborated with the HKU Conservatory Orchestra and the Metropole Orkest, including performances at the Grote Zaal of TivoliVredenburg. His concert activity spans Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Russia. He has participated in masterclasses with pianists including Wolfram Schmitt-Leonardy, Klára Würtz and David Korevaar.

Programme:
Edvard Grieg
Gabriel Fauré
Antonín Dvořák
Johannes Brahms
György Ligeti
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
Dolly Suite
Slavonic Dances (selection)
Hungarian Dances (selection)
Five Pieces for Piano Four Hands
Evelina Argyrou : piano
Alexandros Chouros : piano

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@kormos_project
Listen to the composition 'Platanos' featured on 'KORMOS' via YouTube.