A tribute to Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen's multifaceted contributions to 20th-century music for four full days at the Athens Conservatoire
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Tickets
Free admission
Ticket Reservations: Τ. 210 7240673, Mon-Fri 13:30-18:30 and info@athensconservatoire.gr
Tickets are provided at the entrance of the Athens Conservatoire
Introduction
A tribute with concerts, lectures, classes open to instrumentalists and composers, and guest artists including two outstanding figures from the French music scene: the pianist Florent Boffard and the composer Alain Louvier.
This year is the 110th anniversary of the birth of the great theorist, musician, composer and teacher Olivier Messiaen, whose work occupies a central place in the music of the 20th century. Intent on enhancing its students' familiarity with the modern and contemporary repertoire, the Athens Conservatoire has joined forces with the Onassis Stegi to stage an important tribute to Olivier Messiaen.
His pioneering work and inspired teaching will be spotlit with the help of the pianist Florent Boffard, who studied under Yvonne Loriod, Messiaen's wife and the ideal performer of his works, and the composer Alain Louvier, who, along with many of the key composers of the 20th century, studied under Messiaen.
Photo © Croes, Rob C. / Anefo
Monday 4 March
20:30 | Piano Recital: Florent Boffard
Olivier Messiaen: “Le Courlis cendré”
Tristan Murail: “La Mandragore”
Olivier Messiaen: “L’Alouette lulu”
George Benjamin: “Shadowlines”
Olivier Messiaen: “Le Loriot”
Tuesday 5 March
9:30-13:00 & 15:00-18:00 | Piano & Chambre Music Μasterclass: Florent Boffard on Olivier Messiaen and students (in English, no translation available)
With: Myrto Akrivou, Christina Katidou, Anastasia Koukioglou, Haris Maimaris, Nelly Mavroidi, Iro Menegou, Tatiana Nikolopoulou, Danai Papadopoulou, Thalia Papadopoulou, Maria Pachnisti, Eva Stavrou, Marianna Tsigka, Giannis Zorapas
20:30 | Lecture: Alain Louvier “Messiaen and the Nature concert” (in French with Greek subtitles)
Wednesday 6 March
10:00-13:00 | Analysis Masterclass: Alain Louvier
Analysis of the Messiaen pieces “Regard des Anges” [Contemplation of the Angels] (from the work Vingt Regards sur l’enfant-Jésus [Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus]) for piano solo, “La Chouette hulotte” (from the Catalogue d'oiseaux) for piano solo, and “Couleurs de la Cité Céleste” for orchestra (in French with sequential translation).
15:00-18:00 | Composition Masterclass: Alain Louvier
Masterclass on selected participants’ pieces, which will be inspired by elements that appear in Messiaen’s oeuvre (in French with sequential translation)
Participating composers: Petros Andriotis, Katerina Didila, Haris Gkatzoflias, Anthi Damvouneli, Spyros Kallivokas, Haris Katsilis, Niki Krasaki, Dimitris Papavasileiou, Giorgos Stamatopoulos, Diamantina Vrachlioti, Thanos Zamboukas, Stella Ziopoulou
With: Natalia Geraki, Titos Gouvelis, Dimitris Desyllas, Maria Efstratiadi, Lefki Karpodini, Odysseas Korellis, Aggelos Liakakis, Myrsini Margariti, Spyros Mourikis, Maria Mylaraki, Vaggelis Nina
Thursday 7 March
16:00-18:00 | Round Table Discussion: “The Interpretation of Olivier Messiaen’s works”, with Florent Boffard and Greek pianists who include works by Messiaen in their repertoire. Moderation: Lorenda Ramou (in English, no translation available).
19:00 | François-Bernard Mâche, George Kouroupos, and Alain Louvier discuss their study years with Messiaen (in Greek and French with sequential translation).
20:30 | Athens Conservatoire students’ and masterclass participants’ concert, featuring works by Messiaen, Messiaen’s students, and young composers.
All events will be held in the “Aris Garoufallis” Hall of the Athens Conservatoire, except for the round table discussion scheduled on Thursday, 7 March (16:00–18:00), which will take place in room 35.
