Sani Festival

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Festival Story:

The Sani Festival was conceived as a private initiative, reflecting the enthusiasm and passion for music of its founders. It was designed to bring together a mix of cultural ideas and trends from every corner of the earth, and has been so successful that it is now one of the most well-established arts festivals in Greece. Once again this year the Sani Festival will be showcasing top artists and performers in music, dance and the visual arts, offering a thrilling journey through the world of Greek and foreign art. In the words of Artistic Director Olga Tambouri, ‘We have chosen the artists for this year’s festival on the basis of their innovative profile in the arts and the need to offer a rich variety of performances. This year we are also offering a limited number of free tickets to open up the festival to younger people’.

The heart of the Sani Festival is the internationally acclaimed three-day Jazz on the Hill programme, which features leading figures from the world jazz music scene. First staged in 1992, the festival is now the longest-established jazz event in our country. This year’s fifteenth Jazz on the Hill promises unforgettable moments, with a special tribute to musicians who have appeared for the ECM record label. ECM was founded in 1969 by Manfred Eicher and has distinguished itself for its faith in its musicians and their music, as well as for the high quality aesthetic presentation of their albums – many of which have changed the course of modern musical history.

The new programme of world music is living proof that the festival is evolving and opening itself up to new musical directions. The first Sounds of the World programme will feature the living legend from Brazil, Milton Nascimento, the Argentinian percussion maestro Minino Garay, and the Hadouk Trio – making their very first appearance in Greece.

The festival also includes a visual arts component, with sculpture exhibitions and installations, as well as a special dance performance dedicated to Federico Garcia Lorca. As usual, the festival culminates in the regular Greek music concerts to mark the 15th August holiday. Finally, September will see the much-loved Sani Classic series of classical music concerts, this year dedicated to Mozart to mark the 250th anniversary of the great composer’s birth. These concerts will be held for the first time at the Cine Orfeas, the resort’s own open-air cinema. All through July and August, the Sani Resort will be offering the very best entertainment available in the arts in northern Greece – thrilling audiences with the energy and quality of another superb programme.

Festival Events:

Program 2006:

• Painting exhibtion
  
  • Saturday, July 15
    Philip Tsiaras, Exhibition of paintings—works in a broad range of materials—including canvas, glass, clay, bronze and photographs.
• JAZZ ON THE HILL
  
  • Friday, July 21
    Tord Gustavsen Trio—The Norwegian pianist has been a cornerstone of the Scandinavian jazz scene, collaborating with some of its top musicians. His typically ‘Norwegian’ lyricism has made an interesting contribution to the contemporary music scene.
  • Saturday, July 22
    ‘Sangam’ Charles Lloyd with Zakir Hussain and Eric Harland Rich in passionate emotion, the compositions of the exceptional saxophonist Charles Lloyd have made an important mark on the post-bop era.
  • Sunday, July 23
    Anouar Brahem ‘Le voyage de Sahar’—The Tunisian oud player Anouar Brahem is an artist who combines profound respect for his own Arab traditions with a willingness to use contemporary elements to create a new, sophisticated sound.
  • Friday July 28
    Babis Venetopoulos—After numerous appearances at exhibitions in Greece, Japan, Brazil and the States, and with a CV that includes a whole range of audio-visual productions and 3D animations.
  • Saturday, July 29
    AENAON Dance Theatre—The AENAON Dance Theatre has staged productions of no fewer than 78 different works, performing in Greece and abroad, showcasing new talent and promoting the very best of classical and contemporary dance. Daniel Lommel—ranked as one of the ten best dancers of all time—guarantees the unique quality of the performance.
• SOUNDS OF THE WORLD
  
  • Friday, August 4
    Hadouk Trio—Features combinations of traditional musical instruments creating a magical musical journey to unmapped regions of the world.
  • Saturday, August 5
    Milton Nascimento—The distinguished Brazilian performer was awarded a Grammy in 1998 for best World Music Album was the crowning moment in a long and successful career.
  • Sunday, August 6
    Minino Garay y Los Tambores del Sur—A richly varied music, combining the influences of Europe and the musician’s 17 years in Paris with his original Argentine roots—plus a blend of African, Peruvian and Spanish sounds.
  • Saturday, August 12
    Theodoros—A distinguished practitioner and theorist in the visual arts, who has staged events and exhibited sculpture and constructions at major festivals and public spaces and buildings.
  • Sunday, August 13
    Loukianos Kilaidonis & KOEM—In a show titled “With honeysuckle and jasmine” Loukianos Kilaidonis will be presenting a selection of his music from 1970 to the present day, as well as favourite songs by other composers. He will be accompanied by the National Greek Music Orchestra (KOEM) in a program directed by Stavros Xarchakos.
  • Saturday, August 19
    Eleftheria Arvanitaki—The concert features songs from the great vocalist’s most recent album, Parallel Roads—songs which have been defining moments in contemporary Greek music. She will be appearing alongside Manos Pyrovolakis, whose distinctive style combines Cretan tradition with pop, creating a sound which is interesting and unique.
• SANI CLASSIC “Tribute to Mozart”
  
  • Thursday, August 24
    Vangelis and Anelia Portokali—Piano recital for four hands.
  • Friday, August 25
    Maria Tassopoulou, Dimitris Papayiannakis & Stamos Semsis—Recital for violin, viola and piano.
  • Saturday, August 26
    Evi Yiamopoulou, Elli Kasda & Kostis Rasidakis—Recital for two voices and piano.
  • Sunday, August 27
    Kostis Papazoglou & Concerto Conservatorio—Recital for flute, violin, viola and cello. Sani Festival Artistic Director. Olga Tambouri.
  • For more information, please contact
    Argyro Barata, Organization and production division
    Georgia Dodou, Communications Director
    Phone: +30 2310 317 327, +30 2310 312 320 (9:00 to 16:00 daily)
    Fax: +30 2310 317 881, or Email sanifestival@saniresort.gr

Practical Info:

Festival schedule 2008:

• July 11 - 13, 2008, Jazz on the Hill
• July 25 - 27, 2008, Sounds of the World

Do you have an update or more information about this festival? Email us at updates@kadmusarts.com
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