The Athens State Orchestra’s “Musical Walks” return to the National Library of Greece for a concert at the Tower of Books, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, on January 19, at 7:00 p.m.

Starting with Claude Debussy’s Chansons de Bilitis, inspired by the erotic poetry of the ancient Greek woman who is rumored to have been a follower of Sappho, the concert program creates a dialogue between musical works that have their origins in antiquity, but also in tradition. Debussy’s fellow student Maurice Emmanuel was inspired by ancient Greek music, while Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu drew on the music of his homeland, while also engaging in a dialogue with Debussy’s idiom.

At the same time, the concert creates a dialogue between music and poetry, with Fenia Papadodima narrating the works. The ensemble consists of leading musicians from the Athens State Orchestra: Nikos Nikopoulos on flute, Panagiotis Giannakas on clarinet, Gogo Xagara on harp, and Andreas Farmakis on vibraphone, who will be joined by pianist Lito Thomou. They will be joined by two musicians who were members of the Athens State Orchestra’s Academy of Young Musicians, flutist Konstantina Roussou and harpist Maria Malafi.

One hour before the concert (6 p.m.), the National Library of Greece will offer a guided tour of its premises for a limited number of people. Priority will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Program

MORRIS EMMANUEL (1862 – 1938)

Sonata for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano, Op. 11 (1907)

CLAUDE DEBUsSY (1862 – 1918)

Il pleure dans mon cœur, on a poem by Paul Verlaine, for flute and harp

TORU TAKEMITSU (1930 – 1996)

Rain Spell for flute, clarinet, vibraphone, harp, and piano (1982)

CLONT DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918)

Les chansons de Bilitis (The Songs of Bilitis), incidental music for narrator, two flutes, two harps, and celesta (1901)

With the Participation of

Fenia Papadodima | narration

Nikos Nikopoulos | flute

Panagiotis Giannakas | clarinet

Andreas Farmakis | vibraphone

Gogo Xagara | harp

Lito Thomou | piano & celesta

Joining them are two former members of the Academy of Young Musicians, Konstantina Roussou (flute) and Maria Malafi (harp).

Admission is free. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.