Performers
- Duo Argos
- Julien Beautemps accordion
- Sotiris Athanasiou guitar
Programme
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart/Julien Beautemps La flûte enchantée de poche (Pocket Magic Flute) [10′]
George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue (arr. Julien Beautemps) [16′]
Astor Piazzolla Libertango (arr. Sotiris Athanasiou) [7’]
Mikis Theodorakis Επιτάφιος (Epitaph) to words of a poem by Yannis Ritsos (selection and arr. Sotiris Athanasiou) [7′]
Μέρα Μαγιού (Mera Magiou – On first of May)
Βασίλεψες αστέρι μου (Vasilepses, asteri mou – You reigned, my star)
Chick Corea Spain (arr. Sotiris Athanasiou) [15’]
Concert description
The combination of guitar and accordion is not entirely uncommon in music, especially contemporary one. However, it is still rare enough that putting together a concert that does not consist entirely of tangos or avant-garde music requires considerable skill, imagination, and work, including the preparation of original arrangements and transcriptions. The program of Duo Argos (Julien Beautemps and Sotiris Athanasiou) includes music by composers from their countries of origin: France is represented by Maurice Ravel, while Greece – by Mikis Theodorakis, known (even to those who are unaware of it) as the composer of the music for the film Zorba the Greek, featuring what is probably the most famous incarnation of the sirtaki dance. Beautemps also miniaturized Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute and arranged George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, while Athanasiou arranged Astor Piazzolla’s Libertango. Together, they arranged Fazil Say’s Black Earth. In chamber music, harmonious cooperation is paramount!
– Dominika Micał (pisanezesluchu.pl)