CHARA IAKOVIDOU – LUDOVIC FROCHOT
Ν. SKALKOTTAS: GREEK DANCES FOR TWO PIANOS

In his 36 Greek Dances for Orchestra, one of the most significant works of 20th-century Greek musical creation, Nikos Skalkottas achieves a fusion of Greek folk music and Western European modernist trends. Some of the dances are based on traditional folk songs, while others are free compositions infused with the spirit of Greek folk tradition.
In this concert, the Dances are presented for the first time in a transcription for two pianos, whose symphonic dimension brilliantly conveys the richness and complexity of Skalkottas’ orchestral writing. The core of the programme consists of twelve of his most well-known dances, framed by works by composers of his era (Giannis Constantinidis, Manuel Infante, Béla Bartók), as well as two contemporary Greek dances by Philippos Tsalahouris. The aim is to highlight Skalkottas’ work within the broader context of European musical production.