Tuesday 24 March 2009, Rialto Theatre, Lemesos, 20:30
Thursday 26 March 2009, Markideion Theatre, Pafos, 20:30
Friday 27 March 2009, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, Lefkosia, 20:30
Soloist: Elena Mouzala (piano)
Music Direction: Ayis Ioannides
Programme:
F.Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Opus 26
F.J.Haydn: Piano Concerto in F Major, Hob XVIII:3
R. Schumann: Symphony No.2 in C Major, Op.61
Ticket prices: 10 and 5 euro for pensioners. Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office
Free entrance for students, soldiers, student card and EURO<26 card holders
Elena Mouzala was born in Cyprus and started her piano lessons at the age of three. In 1970 she won the first prize at the “First Greek National Piano Competition”. In 1971 she graduated from the Ethnikon Odeion of Athens, in the class of Ms Krinio Kalomiri receiving the first prize. She continued her music studies in France with scholarships from the French Government, the Onasis Foundation and the Greek Cultural Centre of Paris (A.G. Leventis Foundation). In 1975 Elena Mouzala won the second prize at the International Piano Competition “Gian Battista Viotti” in Vercelli, Italy. In 1976 she graduated from the “Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique”, Paris with first prize, in the class of P. Sancan and first prize in Chamber Music, in the class of C. Lardé. Elena Mouzala has given recitals in France, Belgium, Germany, the US, Austria, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary, Greece, Cyprus, Canada, England. As a soloist, she has appeared with orchestras such as the Paris Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, Brussels State Symphony Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of Vienna, Toulouse National Chamber Orchestra, Cannes Chamber Orchestra, Collegium Academium of Geneva, Ιle de France, Metropolitan of Montreal, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Youth Philharmonic Orchestra of ΕΟK, the London Mozart Players, Budapest and Strasburg Philharmonic Orchestras, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Athens and Thessaloniki State Orchestras. She has received excellent reviews about her supreme musical talent and has been placed among the best performers of her generation. She has recorded works by Greek composers as well as by Ηaydn, Beethoven, Martinu, Mozart, Weber and others, released by Greek and French recording labels. Elena Mouzala is the president of the Federation of Graduates of the Ethnikon Odeion, Vice president of the Federation “Manolis Kalomiris”, Member of the Board of Directors of the Greek Cultural Centre in Paris and Artistic Director of the Festival “Manolis Kalomiris”. She is also an associate piano teacher at the Music Department of the Ionian University. In March 2008, she received an award for both her artistic and teaching activity by the Federation “F.E.M.” – “France- Europe- Mediterranean”.
Through his thirty year long international experience Ayis Ioannides, Artistic Director of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra, has conducted a wide spectrum of musical genres and has universally received high critical acclaim both as conductor and composer. As Artistic Director and Conductor he distinguished himself at the International Kypria Festivals 2004 with the acclaimed opera production Caterina Cornaro,and in 2006 with the concerts Mozart and Shostakovich – a Birthday Dedication. As Artistic Director and Conductor of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra, he conducted with great acclaim the concerts Giants of the North and Mature Youngsters at the International Kypria Festivals 2007 and 2008 respectively. For ten years he was conductor at German opera houses. He has been Chief Conductor of the Vaasa City Orchestra in Finland and the first Artistic Director of the Cyprus State Chamber and Youth Orchestras. He has appeared as guest conductor in several European countries, Australia and the US. His compositions have been performed in Egypt, Austria, France (International Pablo Casals Festival), Germany, Finland and the U.S.A. Especially successful was the world premiere in January 2006 of his Trio for Violin, Violoncello and Piano, commissioned by the Vienna Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde (Musikverein). Since 2002 he is vice president of the Centre of Cypriot Composers.
