The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe with a major commemorative concert on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 21.00 at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall. It will be a “musical journey” from the beautiful days of Smyrna to the mourning of the Asia Minor disaster that followed.

The performers are Kostas Makedonas and Georgia Dagaki. The musical vocal ensembles of the cultural association “Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos of Thessaloniki” with its children’s and mixed youth choir participate and are accompanied by a 12-piece folk orchestra, under the direction of the music composer, Dean of the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Chrysostomos Stamoulis.

The event will begin with the address by the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Professor Nikolaos G. Papaioannou. Immediately afterwards, a speech will be given by the Professor of Diplomatic History of the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Ioannis Stephanides, on the topic “Why Asia Minor?”

During the musical part, the actor Andreas Konstantinou will read excerpts and poems by Dido Sotirios, George Seferis, Kostis Palamas, Petsali-Diomides, K.H. Myris, K. Karamouzi, Nejati Tzoumali and Yannis Karatzoglou.

Entrance only with individual invitations. Invitations are available until 7/6/2022 from the Department of Public Relations of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Monday-Friday 9.00-14.00). Tel. (2310) 991334, 991319, 991346.

ARISTOTLE UNIVERSITY OF THESSALONIKI

Anniversary concert for the 100 years since the Asia Minor Catastrophe

Thessaloniki Concert Hall

8 June 2022, 21:00

PROGRAMME OF THE CONCERT

Address by the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Professor Nikolaos C. Papaioannou

Speech by Ioannis Stephanidis, Professor of Diplomatic History at the Law School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, on the topic: “Why Asia Minor?”

MUSICAL PART

Singing: Kostas Makedonas, Georgia Dagaki

Vocal music ensembles “St. John Chrysostomos”

13-piece folk orchestra

Conducted by Chrysostomos Stamoulis

Teaching children’s choir Josephine Katoflidou

Narrator the actor Andreas Konstantinou

  1. 1. Where the West and the East meet

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

Text 1

(Τh. Petsali-Diomides, Pages of tragedy, New Estia Magazine, Memory of Asia Minor, vol. 1.091 [1972], p. 50)

  1. 2. The bells of the Hagia Sophia

(“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. Somewhere it dawns

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. Ah, and if only I could be the lad

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

Text 2

(George Seferis, The other world, Days E, published by Ikaros, Athens 1977, p. 204)

  1. Stone by stone we built

(“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. My house, my father’s house

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. The Virgin Mary

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. Dreams lost

(Andreas Katsigiannis – Evanthia Magni, Kostas Makedona)

Text 3

  1. Karamouzi (Athanatu) “Walking in Glory”
  1. Two lads from Ayvali

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. My hands are tied

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. The marbled king

(“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

Text 4

(K.CH. Miri [K. Georgousopoulos], “The ash that travelled” (1992)

  1. Bell of Vespers

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

  1. 13. Vara daguerre

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

Text 5

(Dido Sotiriou, Matomena χώματα, Kedros, Athens 2008, pp. 293-303)

  1. 14. Smyrna

(‘Asia Minor’ by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. Yare gypsy

(“Byzantine Vespers” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Lefteris Papadopoulos)

Text 6

(Dido Sotiriou, Bloody soils, Kedros Publications, Athens 2012, p. 342)

  1. The Refugee

(‘Asia Minor’ by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. The Smyrna songs

(Pantelis Thalassinou-Ilias Katsoulis)

  1. What is in store for you

(traditional)

Text 7

(Kostis Palamas, “Anatoli”)

  1. Kordelio caught fire

(“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. 20. Xenaki

(Stavrou Kouyoumtzi)

Text 8

(Nejati Jumali, “Dedication” (1983), trans. Aris Tsokonas)

  1. A thousand million waves

(Yannis Markopoulou – K.H. Myris)

  1. The vultures entered the city

(Yannis Markopoulou – Giorgos Skourtis)

Text 9

(Yannis Karatzoglou, “The Seagulls of Smyrna” (2009)

  1. The words and the years

(Yannis Markopoulou – Manos Eleftheriou)

  1. Through the Bosphorus Straits (“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)
  1. What to remember what to forget

(“Asia Minor” by Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)

  1. Zebedee Festival

(“Asia Minor” Apostolos Kaldaras/Pythagoras)