Φaretra Crystalina

Φaretra Crystalina
[contemporary lyrical folk ensemble]

“NOŪS-Creative space” Theater opens the theater season with a unique musical performance, the pioneering ensemble from Athens "Φaretra Crystalina". After its first appearance on the stage of NOŪS-Creative space, the ensemble returns for a concert with new songs and sounds from around the world.

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collaboration with institutions and festivals such as the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) [world premiere of an unpublished and unperformed work by N. Skalkotas], and ALEA III (Boston University).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 µMegaronΆ Athens Concert Hall. 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:

Chrysostomos Kalogridakis: tenor, guitars, percussion Thalia Moutopoulou: soprano, flutes, piano Gilad Atzmon: saxophones, clarinets