5th International Kalamata Music Days

Who we are.

The International Kalamata Music Days is a classical music festival taking place annually in Kalamata, southern Greece. The festival is organised by the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata and the PHARIS – Kalamata Municipality Beneficiary Organisation and was founded by cellist Indira Rahmatulla, who serves as the Artistic Director, composer Stathis Giftakis and cellist Dimitris Lampos. Since its launch in the summer of 2017, the festival has established an international profile, by focusing on promotion of artistic expression and providing support of pedagogical work and music education.

Our mission.

• To promote music pedagogy and education through international masterclasses, seminars and workshops;
• To organize high-calibre and inspirational concerts and events;
• To enhance Kalamata’s music education initiatives;
• To create opportunities for international artistic exchange;
• To support local musicians and existing programmes;
• To feature emerging artists and ensembles through various performance opportunities;
• To facilitate communication and collaboration among Greek and international artists;
• To encourage collaborative projects that combine music with performing or visual arts;
• To promote and advocate for the social importance of arts and artists;
• To encourage and facilitate the advancement of music and cultural education of the community at large.

The International Kalamata Music Days was created as a response to the remarkable musical development in the region in the last decade. The vision of the festival is to continue this enhancement through education and international artistic exchange.

Summer 2021 – Programme announcement

Da-da-da-DUM!

The International Kalamata Music Days is returning for its fifth edition, with a week full of music and stunning artists from July 27 to August 2, 2021! As we leave a difficult year of confinement and concert ban behind us, we cannot wait for the opportunity to let music inspire and fascinate once more!

This year our festival is presenting seven concerts – from classical to jazz and historically informed performance to contemporary music – that feature internationally renowned artists and ensembles.

The Chiaroscuro String Quartet, consisting of Alina Ibragimova (violin), Pablo Hernán Benedí (violin), Emilie Hörnlund (viola) and Claire Thirion (cello), launches the festival on July 27 at the Ancient Theatre of Messene. Specializing in music of the Classical and Early Romantic periods, this ensemble is one of the most fresh and dynamic voices of its generation. As a festival we are excited to have the opportunity to present the Chiaroscuro String Quartet for the first time to the Greek public.

On July 28, another young and up-coming musician, violist Timothy Ridout, will appear for a solo recital at the Kalamata Castle Amphitheatre. Timothy Ridout is one of the most sought-after violists of his generation and was selected as a BBC New Generation Artist in 2019.

At this point we would like to announce a very exciting project: the creation of our own orchestra! The Kalamata Festival Orchestra, under the direction of world-renowned conductor Joshua Weilerstein and consisting of Greek and international musicians, will appear for the first time on July 29 at the Kalamata Castle Amphitheatre. Among works by Mozart, Skalkottas and Copland, the orchestra will also perform the world premiere of a new composition by Stathis Giftakis

On Friday, July 30, our festival is dedicated exclusively to the art music of the 20^th and 21^st centuries. Flutist Natalia Gerakis, cellist Alexis Karaiskakis-Nastos and pianist Lefki Karpodini will perform, as λ-ensemble in trio, compositions by Leoš Janáček, Xingzimin Pan, Andrea Tarrodi, Minas Borboudakis and George Crumb. The works are inspired by phenomena such as: sunrays, rainfall, snow crystals fall, forest sounds, mammalian voices, ghost stories, souls of dead calling, demon steps, magic and spells, and dreams. Two works will be performed in their Greek premiere.

The next evening, Saturday, July 31, a mild east wind will mingle jazz with Greek traditional music. Contemporary lyra master Soκratis Sinopoulos and his quartet will present new compositions for lyra, piano, double bass and percussion, with obvious influences from Greek traditional, Byzantine and classical music, but also improvisations based on both jazz and contemporary music. Ex oriente lux!

Alexia Mouza, Felix Froschhammer, Ilias Sdoukos and Indira Rahmatulla – the tutors of the festival’s masterclasses – will appear on stage for their anticipated annual concert on Sunday, August 1 at the Kalamata Castle Amphitheatre. They will perform Johannes Brahms' Piano Quartet No.3, Op.60, and the Piano Trio in F-sharp minor by Soviet Armenian composer Arno Babajanyan.

Our festival will end on August 2 with one of the most important ensembles of the Greek jazz scene: the Spiral Trio consisting of Spyros Manesis (piano), Arionas Gyftakis (double bass) and Anastasis Gouliaris (drums). Through the medium of jazz improvisation, join us for a journey to unique and unexpected musical spaces!

This year, as a counterweight to the long lock-down of the previous months, we offer all concerts with free entrance! The concerts will be held in strict compliance with the health regulations for COVID-19.

The festival, organized by the FARIS – Kalamata Municipality Beneficiary Organisation and the Municipal Conservatory of Kalamata, is realized under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Grand Sponsor of the festival is the George & Victoria Karelia Foundation. It is also supported by the Region of Peloponnese.

We look forward to seeing you at this great celebration of music!

The full and detailed programme of the festival can be found here.

Yours sincerely,

The festival’s founding team,

Indira Rahmatulla, Artistic Director

Stathis Giftakis, Financial Manager

Dimitris Lampos, Production Manager