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MOIROLÓI | A Transcultural Lament
MOIROLÓI contrasts the polyphonic Epirotica lamenti, of which Greek moirolói is a part, with the monophonic elements of Baroque and Renaissance art music, exemplified by composers such as John Dowland and Henry Purcell. A group of five soloists from Greece perform in versatile ensembles, exploring both vocal and instrumental variations of moirolói. Meanwhile, two singers and a continuo group from the North Rhine-Westphalia region interpret Baroque and Renaissance pieces.
MOIROLÓI | A Lament for the Living
2nd SACRED MUSIC FESTIVAL
In collaboration with the GNO Alternative Stage
How does death sound, not for the dead, but for the living?
MOIROLÓI is a purely musical narrative focusing on lamentation and funeral rituals. One of the monumental European musical masterpieces, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem (KV 626) crosses paths with the 19th-century dirges of Epirus.
The ”unfamiliar match” of these two musical worlds, combined with elements from the English Renaissance, early Baroque (Doland, Purcell, Handel), and the Byzantine melos, creates a transcendental sound experience that transforms the ritual of death into a celebration of life. MOIROLÓI draws inspiration from Danse Macabre, the ceremonial texts of the Christian Orthodox Funeral Service, and ancient Greek dirges in modern instrumental and vocal arrangements, which can still be heard in the mountains of Epirus.
Under the baton of Yorgos Ziavras, musicians from different cultural backgrounds join their forces. Greek musicians specializing in traditional folk music, a chorus of singers from across Europe, and instrumentalists hailing from Greece and abroad, all come together to form the orchestra.
Learn More MOIROLÓI | A LAMENT FOR THE LIVING - Greek National Opera
Conductor: Yorgos Ziavras
Performers:
Sopranos Nina Koufochristou, Marianna Nomikou, Dimitra Kotidou
Mezzo-sopranos Artemis Bogri, Elena Marangou, Maarja Purga
Tenors Alexandros-Andreas Hazapis, Andreas Karaoulis, Leon Wepner
Basses George Iatrou, Guillem Batllori Pagès, Christos Rammopoulos
Voice Yorgos Merantzas
Concertmaster Katerina Hadjinikolaou
Violin I Veronique de Raedemaeker, Eudjen Zhibaj, Zoe Pouri, Vassilis Soukas
Violin II Kostas Panagiotidis, Angeliki Kasda, Nicolas Beis, Julia Selalmazidi
Viola Stelios Papanastassis, Mischa Smirnov, Elias Sdoukos
Cello Dimitris Travlos, Rebekka Stephan
Double bass Nikos Tsoukalas
Violone Dimitris Tigas
Clarinet Ι Konstantinos Tzekos
Clarinet ΙΙ Till Müller
Bassoon Ι Yannis Evangelatos
Bassoon ΙΙ Dimitris Dakovanos
Trumpet I Dimitris Gogas
Trumpet ΙΙ Katja Lasser
Trombone Ι Andreas-Rolandos Theodorou
Trombone ΙΙ Julia Fischer
Trombone ΙΙΙ Masafumi Sakamoto
Percussion (soloist) Marinos Tranoudakis
Lute Ptolemeos Armaos
Organ Patricia Langermantel
Guests: Savvas Siatras, Polyphonic ensemble Chaonia
Warm thanks
On behalf of the CoGNiMUS Collektiv, we would like to warmly thank Mr Vassilis Drivas for his help in the realization of the concert in Athens. We would also like to thank the Greek National Tourism Organization for helping us with the transportation of the musicians in Athens, and Mr Nikos Bilios from the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism.
