Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival

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The Sixth Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival will take place
from Friday 19th to Tuesday 23rd June 2009

Review of the Fifth Casa dei Mezzo Music Festival

By Sharon Kyrke-Smith

With a programme that promised much, but delivered more, the fifth Casa Dei Mezzo event was a real treat from start to finish.

The festival got off to a rousing start with international Greek soprano, Jenny Drivala, performing an enchanting tribute to Maria Callas. Entitled 'Maria... Myth of a Woman', this was a beautiful and poignant appreciation of Maria's life, loves and death. Philip Modino, the artistic director, managed to put the story across using minimal props, and the whole audience was transfixed by the wonderful voices and costumes.

Guido de Flaviis became an instant favourite with his masterful talent, playing saxophone to tremendous effect. Playing with him on guitar was Emanuele E. Forni, and they took us on a South American journey, with an energetic trip to Chiel Meijerling's Autobhankriek thrown in for good measure. Both these young men were able to perform to the very highest of standards, and all who attended this lunchtime concert appreciated the energy and sheer joie de vivre that emanated from these Italian protégés.

The Friday evening concert took place on the pretty harbourside of Makrigialos, and this was a showcase for local young talent. The Ierapetra Girls Choir performed a selection of traditional Greek songs, and the Youth Orchestra of Hersonissos provided music. A large crowd made for an entertaining evening, which was much appreciated by local people and tourists alike.

Saturday afternoon was given over to a Chamber Concert, and Marko Pop Ristov, who hails from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, played violin with to great effect, accompanied by Thomas Martenik, from France, on the cello and Spanish born Tarek Al-Shubbak on piano, making this a truly international performance that was much admired.

The evening performance was largely given over to more local talent, with Artemis Xaralampaki and Suzzana Xalikia performing Baroque music on cello and recorders. This show was topped and tailed by Norwegian soprano Isa Katharina Gericke, whose voice has a wonderful resonance, accompanied by Emanuele E. Forni, showing his versatility and talent by this time playing the notoriously temperamental instrument, a fourteen string lute, to give a wonderful finale to another great evening.

Fivo Mavrakis was a big favourite last year, and this year for the Sunday morning concert he showed that, he has improved even more, earning him a standing ovation for a performance of outstanding quality. This young man is surely going to be a big name in the future; such is his mastery of guitar. Along with Guido de Flaviis on saxophone, once again showing off his huge ability, this concert will remain in the memory of all those lucky enough to have attended.

As if that was not enough for one day, there followed two piano recitals that were spellbinding. Gayane Gasparyan, from Russia, may be of small stature, but she was more that big enough for the Bosendorfer Imperial Grand, giving a spine tingling performance of Schubert's piano sonata in C minor D958. This was so much appreciated by the audience that Gunnar Strømsholm, the Festival Manager, promised sonata D959 for 2009!

With the audience hardly able to regain their breath following such a breathtaking performance, the incredibly talented British born Tobias Napleton, who performed Musorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to great effect, then treated them to yet another masterful recital. This was a truly magical afternoon, and anywhere else in the world, you would have to pay probably five times more than the incredibly reasonable 10-euro tickets. The audience left on a cloud of admiration and thanks for a most memorable afternoon of wonderful music.

Mariya Berezovska, a mezzo-soprano from the Ukraine, was able to show of her beautifully modulated voice when performing Berlioz on the Sunday evening, perfectly accompanied by Tarek Al-Shubbak, who then went on to accompany Isa Katharina Gericke for a brilliant performance of Duparc.

Marko Pop Ristov then joined Tarek on stage on violin and French cellist Thomas Maternik for a great rendition of Ravel's Piano Trio in A Minor. This evening was once again one to etch itself on the memory of all who attended; such was the quality, intimacy and expertise of all who performed.

The Bosendorfer, expertly tuned by Gisle Daus, a Master Piano Artisan, was again put to great use for a recital of Piano for 4 Hands, featuring the talents of two pianists, Japanese Ai Motohashi-Sideri and Greek Katerina Kanavaki, who entertained and delighted us with works by Ravel, Tchaikovsky and Mozart.

Monday evening was a great favourite with the audience, featuring a Lyric Gala that included many well known and loved tunes by Bizet, Gershwin and Mozart. One of the many highlights featured the beautiful voices of Isa Katharina Gericke and Mariya Berezovska performing a stunning rendition of Delibes' Flower Duet.

With many of the artists participating, both musically and vocally, this was a fantastic evening which was able to show off the great togetherness and encouragement that was shown by all the performers throughout the festival, with a truly international feeling of bonhomie and mutual support that this event, perhaps uniquely, is able to create.

Tuesday started with a lunchtime performance of folk songs from around the world. Once again, Greek talent was on show in the form of Eni Kini, with a lovely soprano voice, accompanied by Nikos Tassopoulos on piano. This was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, well performed and appreciated by all.

The thrilling finale to the festival came at the Villea Village Hotel, with the Greek band Playback showing off their talents to a large audience, featuring many well loved Greek songs. The whole evening was great fun, and was a fitting end to a wonderful six days in Makrigialos.

The planning of this year's concert was not without hiccups, and it is a great tribute to Gunnar Strømsholm that he was able to put on such a varied, popular and accomplished event where there truly was something for everyone. All of the artists who participated were of the very highest of quality, and none of them would be out of place in the top opera houses and concert halls anywhere in the world.

That Gunnar was able to bring them all together shows his great understanding and love of music, and many who attended are already marking next year's event in their diary was a must-do. Congratulations to all involved, and thanks to all of the sponsors, particularly Olympic Airways, for their support for such a brilliant event that will stay in the memory for a long time...

Concert Management:
J Audrey Ellison Artists' Management
135 Stevenage Road, Fulham, London SW6 6PB
Tel.: +44 207 381 9751
Fax: +44 207 381 2406
Email: Audrey@Ellison-Intl.freeserve.co.uk