Wednesday 13 February, Rialto Theatre, Lemesos, 20:30
Thursday 14 February, Larnaka Municipal Theatre, 20:30
Friday 15 February, Strovolos Municipal Theatre, 20:30
Soloist: Alexis Theophylaktou (violin)
Music Direction: John Georgiadis
Programme:
F. Mendelssohn: Die Schöne Melusine Overture, Op.32
F. Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto, Op.64 in E minor
A. Skordis: …piece for String Orchestra
C. M. von Weber: Symphony No.1
Tickets available at the Theatres’ box office at €9 and at €5 for pensioners.
Free entrance for students, soldiers, student card and EURO<26 card holders
Alexis Theophylactou was born in Lefkosia, Cyprus. He started violin tuition at the age of 8 with Themis Christodoulou. At the age of 16 he obtained the LRSM violin diploma of the ABRSM with distinction. He continued his studies under scholarship at the Eastman School of Music of the University of Rochester, USA under the supervision of the famous violinist Oleh Krysa. Thereafter he studied with Professor Gunter Pichler of the Alban Berg Quartet. He then moved to Karlsruhe, Germany where he studied with the distinguished Greek professor Stelios Kafantaris. He graduated with a Soloist’s Diploma from the Alex Thurneyssen Conservatoire wining unanimously the First Prize and Gold Medal. He continued his studies as a post-graduate at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in Germany under Professor Nachum Erlich. After graduating with honours, he received private tuition by the distinguished soloist Gracia Arutunian at the Crescendo Violin Academy in Germany. He has been a member of the Heidelberg Orchestra, Germany and has regularly collaborated with the Chamber Orchestra Βietigheim, Germany. He has also collaborated with the Mediterranean Youth Orchestra, the National Theatre of Greece, the Friends of Music Orchestra Camerata, the Chamber Orchestra of the Greek National Opera etc. He has also played as soloist with the Cyprus State Orchestraand has repeatedly appeared on television and radio programmes of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC). Currently, he is the leader of the Orchestra of Greek National Opera.
Holding one of the UK’s top violin jobs, that of LSO leader, for 14 years from the age of 26, presented John Georgiadis with the ideal springboard for launching into a conducting career and in the mid 70’s, starting with education work with the Liverpool Phil, he took his first steps as conductor. Feeling the need to acquire a sound technique and good understanding of conducting requirements to stand alongside his already substantial orchestral experience, he decided on the arduous course of eight years of conducting studies with Sergiu Celibidache. He has since conducted concerts and recordings worldwide with many of the top orchestras. Although comfortable with most symphonic repertoire, having performed a wide range of music, he is an ardent Bruckner fan. A wide ranging and varied career has included several Music Director positions, starting with the London Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra which was founded in 1972, the Bristol Sinfonia in the 1980’s, and from 1994 to 1996, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. He has also enjoyed arrangement and orchestration, including the music of Thai composers while in Bangkok with the BSO, and has frequently performed these works. He has also arranged a large number of Viennese pieces for orchestra and/or chamber ensemble, works both popular and rare, including an adaption of Bruckner’s String Quintet for String Orchestra.
