The Syros International Music Festival – Meet the Violins is back for a second year, bringing internationally acclaimed performers to the historic Apollo Theatre in Ermoupolis on the Greek island of Syros through to Nov. 24.
Under the artistic direction of violinists Asi Matathias and Tosca Opdam, the festival features a week of chamber music, masterclasses, and cultural activities breathing life into the capital of the Cyclades and its iconic 160-year-old theater, the Apollo, known as the miniature La Scala.
Highlights include performances by celebrated violinist Pinchas Zukerman and renowned musicians such as Amanda Forsyth, Ori Kam, and Gabriel Schwabe. The festival opened on Tuesday with Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major, K. 136 and Brahms’ Op. 111 Quintet.
Works by composers Dvorak, Poulenc, Kodaly, Brahms, Mozart, Sibelius, Prokofiev, Schubert, Schoenberg, Tchaikovsky, and Schumann will also be performed.
The festival also casts the spotlight on works inspired by folk traditions and includes video projections and dance performances. The six-day event comes to a close on Nov. 23 with Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A Minor and Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E Flat.
In addition to concerts, masterclasses led by Zukerman, Matathias, and Opdam offer young musicians learning opportunities. A professional development session guided by Bernhard Kerres and Paul van der Schoot aims to further enrich the festival’s educational offerings.
Complementing the music is an art exhibition at the Yannis & Eleni Vati Art Gallery showcasing Syros’ vibrant artistic heritage.
Supported by the Municipality of Syros and the South Aegean Region, Syros International Music Festival 2024 is just one of a series of events including the annual Syros Rebetiko Festival establishing Syros as a year-round culture destination.
* The 2nd Syros International Music Festival will take place at the Apollo Theatre in Ermoupolis, Syros through to Nov. 23. Concerts begin at 8:30 p.m. and tickets are available online.
