13th CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL “War and Peace” – Platanias and Ancient Aptera 25th August – 4th September
This year’s theme is “War and Peace”.
The Minoa Palace welcomes you to the 13th Chania Chamber Music Festival with a theme that touches deeply both human emotions and timeless contrasts – contrasts that only the power of music can bridge.
WHEN: 25th August – 1st September at 21.00 (Platanias, Minoa Palace)
3rd and 4th September at 21.00 (Ancient Aptera)
WHERE: Minoa Palace Resort, Conference Hall, Platanias, and Ancient Aptera
Tickets: ticketservices.gr: http://bit.ly/4kq82in
or by telephone: 210 7234567
E-TICKET
f you buy your tickets online, download them in PDF format and print them, or save them on a mobile phone, so you can enter the event venue directly with them.
THE CONCERTS AT ANCIENT APTERA ARE PART OF THE CRETE FESTIVAL – CO-ORGANIZED WITH THE REGION OF CRETE & THE CHANIA ANTIQUITIES SERVICE
(Free admission with entry passes – Reservations not open yet)
PROGRAMME
Monday, August 25th, 2025, 9:00 PM
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Concert 1: Wounds & Lamentations
[80 years since the end of World War II – 50 years since the death of Dmitri Shostakovich]
MIETZISLAV WEINBERG (1919 – 1996)
Piano Quintet, Op. 18
Josef Špaček, violin
Roman Simović, violin
David Bogorad, viola
Angelos Liakakis, cello
Vasilis Varvaresos, piano
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH (1906 – 1975)
String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110
Roman Simović, violin
Josef Špaček, violin
David Bogorad, viola
Alexander Wollheim, cello
Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 9:00 PM
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Parallel event: Lecture by historian Maria Efthymiou
Wednesday, August 27, 2025, 9:00 PM
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Concert 2: Light & Shadow
ALFRED Schnittke (1934 – 1998)
Trio for violin, viola and cello
Josef Špaček, violin
Milena Simović, viola
Angelos Liakakis, cello
LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN (1770 – 1827)
Trio for piano, clarinet, and cello in B-flat major, Op. 11
Titos Gouvelis, piano
Odile Ettelt, clarinet
Alexander Wollheim, cello
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756 – 1791)
Sonata for two pianos in D Major, K.448
Titos Gouvelis, piano
Friday, August 29, 2025, at 21:00
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Concert 3: Transformations
[100 years since the birth of Mikis Theodorakis]
MIKIS THEODORAKIS (1925 – 2021)
String Quartet No. 4 “Mass”
Giorgos Demertzis, violin
Eleana Stratou, violin
David Bogorad, viola
Angelos Liakakis, cello
SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891 – 1953)
Sonata for Piano No. 6 in A Major, Op. 82
Vasilis Varvaresos, piano
RICHARD STRAUSS (1864 – 1949)
Transformations (transcription for string septet)
Roman Simović, violin
Iason Keramidis, violin
Milena Simović, viola
David Bogorad, viola
Angelos Liakakis, cello
Alexander Wollheim, cello
Konstantinos Sifakis, double bass
In 1940, Sergei Prokofiev sees the clouds of the bloody Second World War thickening and the “storm” of destruction and death breaking out. And through his wildly beautiful Sixth Piano Sonata, he sonically captures the relentless brutality that Europe is experiencing. Five years later, Richard Strauss mourns for his devastated homeland, paying for its “sins,” as he mourns for the past glory of its spiritual heritage, which has now been shattered. Each of them thus speaks of the “laurels” of victory but also the “cypresses” of the dead.
And a few years later, in 1958, in distant Greece, the young Mikis Theodorakis, having experienced the tragedy of the bloody Civil War and the hopes for a better tomorrow, bears witness through his charged music to the passions, conflicts, and quests of an entire era.
Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 21.00
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Concert 4: Before the Storm
[80 years since Bartók’s death]
ANTONIS TZIVENIS (b. 2000)
Selection from the 10 pieces for string quartet
Giorgos Demertzis, violin
Eleana Stratou, violin
David Bogorad, viola
Angelos Liakakis, cello
LEOŠ JANÁČEK (1854 – 1928)
Concerto for piano, two violins, viola, clarinet, horn, and bassoon
Titos Gouvelis, piano
Iason Keramidis, violin
Josef Špaček, violin
Milena Simović, viola
Odile Ettelt, clarinet
Angelos Sioras, horn
Malte Refardt, bassoon
BELÁ BARTÓK (1881 – 1945)
Sonata for two pianos and percussion
Vasilis Varvaresos, piano
Titos Gouvelis, piano
Jean-Baptiste Leclère, percussion
Spyros Lampouras, percussion
Monday, September 1st, 2025 at 21.00
Minoa Palace Resort Conference Center
Concert 5: Variations of Victory
[50 years since the end of the Vietnam War]
FREDERIC RZEWSKI (1938 – 2021)
El pueblo unido jamás será vencido! (People united will never be defeated!) (1975)
Denis Kozhukhin, piano
Wednesday, September 3rd & Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at 21:00
Ancient Aptera Theatre
Concert 6th & 7th: The Soldier’s Tale
IGOR STRAVINSKY (1882 – 1971)
The Soldier’s Tale (for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, and double bass)
Michalis Aerakis, narration
Odile Ettelt, clarinet
Malte Refardt, bassoon
Dimitris Gogkas, cornet/trumpet
George Krimperis, trombone
Jean-Baptiste Leclère, percussion
Iason Keramidis, violin
Konstantinos Sifakis, double bass
When in 1918 the great modernist Igor Stravinsky was writing The Soldier’s Tale, Europe was emerging from the Great War, which not only cost millions of lives but also dealt a heavy blow to its prestige and the values of humanity, freedom, and peace. But Europe, through its “defeat,” found the strength to be reborn and look forward – and this is primarily what its Art did! Thus, although Stravinsky wrote The Soldier’s Tale for seven instruments and not for the massive orchestra he had used until then, he discovered new (and equally successful!) ways to narrate, to move, to ignite the imagination, to stimulate the spirit and soul of the listeners. This vibrant score by Stravinsky, full of humor, action, a dance mood, grotesque twists, and virtuoso brilliance, concludes this edition of Chamber Music Festival Chania in the most impressive way!
Source: Chambermusicfestival.gr , Minoa Palace
and ticketservices.gr
