Φaretra Crystalina

Φaretra Crystalina

[contemporary lyrical folk ensemble]

Live Concert
at NOŪS-Creative space

Saturday, April 5th at 21:00

The NOŪS-Creative Space Theater closes the theatrical season with a unique musical performance. The pioneering ensemble from Athens, Faretra Crystalina, takes the stage of NOŪS-Creative Space for the first time to present a live concert featuring their EP, which reimagines traditional Greek songs. This performance follows the release of their music video for "Lianochortaroudia" and their debut single "Me Gelasan Ta Poulia".

Lyrical voices, vocal close harmonies, unique covers, and new compositions create a brilliant and vibrant repertoire that spans from Latin America to Sweden and Japan, from the Mediterranean to the Celtic highlands. Nevertheless, Greek traditional songs remain the core of their music. As a natural evolution of this dense material, original creations come into existence.

Φaretra Crystalina bursts onto the scene with a bold rock spirit, blending the lyricism of classical music with the raw energy of traditional melodies. The brilliance of lyrical singing merges with the earthy essence of rural folk songs that have been shaped by time. Every new fusion of these three elements gives birth to a fresh adventure for Φaretra Crystalina. Traditional and classical instruments come together ecstatically. Vocal fireworks blossom through sonic portraits of the countryside. Classical and folk traditions blend to create a new sound.

Inspired by artists who reinvent the traditions of their homeland, Φaretra Crystalina forges a path of high aesthetic exploration. They play freely with their influences, crafting groundbreaking and unique sonic experiences. Central to Φaretra Crystalina's sound world are the Voices-free, resonating and powerful, cherished by both ancient traditions and classical music. Throughout their range and combinations, they illuminate the realm of deep emotions. Guitars, various wind instruments, bayan, multi-percussion and double bass, they all dance with the voices, guiding them to timeless spaces shaped by experience and desire.

Φaretra Crystalina began its journey in 2016 and from then on regularly performs and records, both independently and in collaboration with institutions and festivals such as the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) [world premiere of an unpublished and unperformed work by N. Skalkotas], and ALEA III (Boston University). Its members are collaborators with major Greek institutions, including the Greek National Opera, the Athens Municipality Orchestra, and the 'Megaron' Athens Concert Hall. 7 musicians with very distinctive backgrounds collaborate to chart a course that encompasses the entirety of musical creation over the past 1000 years as a single, unified tradition:

Φaretra Crystalina
Chrysostomos Kalogridakis: tenor, guitars
Thalia Moutopoulou: soprano, flutes, piano
Servane Ιώ le Moller: Bayan
Gilad Atzmon: saxophones, clarinets
Antonis Nomikos: multi-percussion, vocals
Yorgos Arnis: double bass
Iro Iordanoglou: vocals , piano

Credits:
Lighting Design: Vasilis Kontogiannis
Communication: Nikos Triantafyllou
Production Management: Giannis Parlis
Production Company: NOŪS Productions

 “Φaretra Crystalina is reuniting modern and ancient musics and styles in a joyful and stunning show of varied songs from everywhere in a new sound approach, in a perfect vocal/instrumental mix. One doesn't want to miss any of their numbers in their elaborate, sophisticated and original reorchestrations. A new vision of the audio world !…”

Michel Cardin [Université de Moncton, Canada]

  “…A penetrative tenor voice with a wonderful range along with a crystal-clear soprano of a µBaez-meets-Victoria de los AngelesΆ texture… They co-create a unique blend of emotions and blossom on stage, pursuing with musical curiosity their quest for the new sound that combines every aspect of a sound experience…”

Hy Mayerson [Florida Press]

 “…the percussionist deployed an incredible array of objects to tweak the emotions lurking in their huge, imaginative repertoire of traditional songs in languages from Old French through Irish/English to Greek to Brazilian Portuguese. I particularly like close-harmony a capella, and theirs is stunning…”

Brady Kiesling [former US diplomat]