Φaretra Crystalina

Φaretra Crystalina

July 7, 2024 | 21:00

Mikros Kerameikos

The pioneer ensemble from Athens presents its first EP with transformations of traditional Greek songs, which follows the release of the video-clip for Lianohortaroudia!

Lyrical voices, polyphony, unheard arrangements, new compositions, a brilliant and bright repertoire: Mediterranean and Latin American songs, Celtic melodies and, in the center, Greek traditional masterpieces, introduced with narratives that bring together the present and the old experience.

Φaretra Crystalina combines the lyricism of classical and the roots, the truth and harshness of traditional melodies with a sparkling rock dynamism. The brilliance of the lyrical song meets the depth and archetypes of the peasant song. Soundscapes of the countryside are combined with vocal fireworks and wonderful colors of traditional and
classical instruments in an orgasmic mood resulting from the fruitful dialogue of the classical and the folk qualities of musicη.

Φaretra Crystalina is an ensemble that started its journey in 2016. Its repertoire includes a multitude of works of the classical and light repertoire from Greece, the Mediterranean and Latin America. Φ.C. is systematically giving concerts and recording, independently, as well as in cooperation with organizations and festivals, such as ERT [Hellenic Broadcasting Company] (world premiere of unpublished and unrecorded work by N. Skalkotas)] and ALEA III (Boston University), with the aim of capturing the countless possibilities given by the fusion of the classical and the traditional element.

Inspired by composers and creators who are reconstructing/reinventing and extending the traditions of their own and other places, Φaretra Crystalina invents a creative field of high aesthetic quest and plays freely with her influences fertilising them, until the result is inevitably beautiful, bearing unprecedented fruits and sonic pleasures unheard of.

The principle and core of her creation are the solid natures of traditional and classical music, stimulated by rock forces. Each new blend of the three elements spawns a new adventure for Φaretra Crystalina. Our source is the last millennium of Music, which quenches our thirst when we listen to it as a single tradition, the variety of which is expressed with the necessary variations in each place and time.

A central role in the sound universe of Φaretra Crystalina is played by the Voices, free, vibrating and resonant, as loved by traditions and classical music. In all of their extent and combinations, they open the world of great emotions and illuminate them with exquisite magnifiers.

The guitar, traditional and baroque flutes, the bayan, percussion from all over the world and the double bass are dancing with the voices and lead them to timeless places, sculpted by experience and desire.

Chrysostomos Kalogridakis : tenor, guitars, narration, texts
Thalia Moutopoulou : soprano, flutes, piano, electronics
Maria Deli : bayan, voice
Antonis Nomikos : multi-percussion, voice
George Arnis : double bass, voice

• FACEBOOK
• Instagram
  
  
• Interview for the fêtes de la musique in Naxos
  
  
• Interview and first world recording of Lullaby (N.Skalkotas) for voice and 8 string guitar
  
  
• Interview in ERT WORLD for the release of the cd with Baroque Arias from Europe