George Kontogiorgos - Dancing with Centaurs (Stathis Mavrommatis; Christina Panteli)

Information

Composer: George Kontogiorgos

1. Dancing with Centaurs: I. Introduction
2. Dancing with Centaurs: II. Idyllic
3. Dancing with Centaurs: III. Dancing with Centaurs
4. Dancing with Centaurs: IV. Meditation
5. Dancing with Centaurs: V. Love Song
6. Dancing with Centaurs: VI. Infidelity
7. Dancing with Centaurs: VII. Before the Battle
8. Dancing with Centaurs: VIII. Vertigo
9. Dancing with Centaurs: IX. Battle of the Centaurs
10. Dancing with Centaurs: X. Farewell
11. Concertino "Testosterone"
12. Ringtone
13. Night Walk

Stathis Mavrommatis, saxophones

Christina Panteli, piano

The Orchestra of Colours

Miltos Logiadis, conductor

Date: 2019

Label: Naxos

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Review

Composer George Kontogiorgos’ illustrious tonal melodies highlight this Global Music Award-winning release with four works inspired by Greek traditional songs/mythologies, juxtaposing tonal and atonal sounds, pentatonic scales, Romanticism, minimalism, jazz and pop soundscapes. Saxophonist Stathis Mavrommatis and pianist Christina Panteli rise to the occasion to master and perform these dense, challenging, stylistically diverse works with technical and musical aplomb!

The ten-movement Dancing with Centaurs (2014), for soprano saxophone and piano, superimposes ancient Hellenic traditional music ideas with Romantic tonality to musically describe these Greek mythical creatures. The second movement Idyllic starts with fast descending piano lines and then smooth sax notes lead to more tonal song-like melodies. The third movement, Dancing with Centaurs, is folk-flavoured with subtle tango undertones and high-pitched squeaky sax. There is a breathtaking change in mood by a slower, reflective sax solo and piano chords in Meditation. Jazz undertones, repeated single sax tones and marching piano groove add to the atmosphere in Battle of the Centaurs.

Ringtone (2016) for alto saxophone and piano is an amusing take, with simple cyclical melodic sax and piano lines mimicking different phones ringing simultaneously. Concertino “Testosterone” (2015) adds a string section to the duo. Solo alto sax Night Walk (2017) has a free improv jazz feel and slight tonal pitch changes at ends of phrases.

Kontogiorgos’ understanding of his personal musical influences and the infrequently heard saxophone/piano instrumentation along with great playing makes for illuminating listening.

— Tiina Kiik

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George Kontogiorgos (born 1945 in Lamia) is a Greek composer and musician. He studied advanced music theory under Alekos Aenian and began his career in the 1960s–70s, composing over 70 popular songs while working extensively as an arranger and conductor. From 1980 onward, he focused on classical composition, producing works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles and orchestras. Kontogiorgos has received notable awards, and his music has been performed internationally by prominent ensembles and soloists. His works have been released on Naxos, Phasma, Sarton, Irida, Lyra and Zodiac Records.

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Stathis Mavrommatis (born 1974) is a Greek saxophonist, conductor and composer. As principal saxophonist of the Athens Wind Orchestra, he is active in teaching and frequently collaborates with orchestras and pianist Christina Panteli in performances across Greece and internationally. Mavrommatis has premiered numerous works dedicated to him in multiple countries and has recorded music by Dinos Constantinides. His album featuring Greek concertos received recognition from the Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics. He is a Yamaha Artist and president of the Greek Saxophone Association.

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Christina Panteli is a Greek pianist who earned her diploma from the Athenaeum Conservatory under Theodore Kotepanos and continued her studies in Paris at the École Normale de Musique de Paris with Edson Elias. She later completed a Master of Music at Roosevelt University. Panteli has performed widely across Europe and the United States, both as a soloist and chamber musician, often focusing on thematic programs and contemporary Greek music. She frequently collaborates with Stathis Mavrommatis, premiering works dedicated to them. Her recordings and performances have been well received.

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