Elektra in Wiesbaden Change of plans for January-February 2016: Following his successful début with the State Orchestra of Hessen in Wiesbaden last November, Vassilis Christopoulos was asked on short notice to take over the upcoming revival of Richard Strauss' Elektra at the Hessisches Staatstheater; première is on 28 January. |
“Compelling expressiveness and high precision”On 4 November, Vassilis Christopoulos conducted his début with the Hessisches Staatsorchester in Wiesbaden. Reactions from the audience and orchestra alike were very enthusiastic. According to the review in the Wiesbadener Kurier, “Christopoulos was able to motivate the orchestra to compelling expressiveness and high precision... with his concise, concentrated, always meaningful conducting he didn't leave any room for doubts”. |
LEOPOLD award for “Das kalte herz”The recording of Henrik Albrecht's orchestral fairy-tale “Das kalte Herz” with the NDR Radiophilharmonie under the direction of Vassilis Christopoulos won a LEOPOLD award for 2015. This is a biannual award given by the Association of German Schools of Music (Verband deutscher Musikschulen) and supported by the Ministry for Family and Youth to distinguish “particularly good music for children”. |
Musical farewell from ConstanceTears, gratitude and standing ovations accompanied Vassilis Christopoulos' farewell concerts in Constance at the end of his ten-year-tenure as Chief Conductor of the Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra. You can read the critique of their last concert with Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony and Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique under the title "A musical legacy" (in German). |
Moving last subscription concerts in Constance Standing ovations in Constance; that's a rare sight! On 22 April the audience sprang to its feet after an emotionally charged performance of Elgar's "Enigma" Variations, while on 24 April they thanked Vassilis Christopoulos with long lasting rhythmical applause. The musicians of the Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra refused to stand up at the end of both evenings, thus honouring their Music Director for the last ten years. |
A very successful MurderessGiorgos Koumendakis's new opera "The Murderess", which was premièred by Vassilis Christopoulos in November, was hailed as a masterpiece by the critics and greeted with great enthusiasm by the Greek audience. Arts editors characterized the production as a milestone in the history of the Greek National Opera. |
New subscribers' record in Constance!The number of Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra's subscribers has reached a new all-time high, exceeding the 2.500 mark for the first time in the Orchestra's history. Constance has a population of app. 85.000 |
A successful season beginn After a wonderful series of five concerts in France with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and outstanding soloist Tedi Papavrami, Vassilis Christopoulos opened his tenth and last season as Music Director of the Southwest German Philharmonic Orchestra in Constance with a - literally - magical programme. Read here the enthusiastic critique on Südkurier (in German). |
A discourteous replacement On Saturday 10 May, one day after Vassilis Christopoulos' term as Artistic Director of the Athens State Orchestra expired, the Minister of Culture unexpectedly announced his replacement without prior notice and without even a "pro forma" word of thanks to Cristopoulos for his services. The press and musical community in Greece seem to be in a state of shock, wondering and speculating about the motives behind this discourteous move. Newspapers have been asking daily why a director who in three years – years of harsh financial crisis – dramatically improved the orchestra’s performance, doubled ticket sales, introduced a wide-ranging social and educational programme, and in so many ways changed the Orchestra's image for the better, had to be removed? |
Uncertainty until the last minuteLess than a month before his term officially expires on 9 May, Vassilis Christopoulos still doesn't know whether he will be renewed as Director of the Athens State Orchestra! The responsible minister of Culture remains silent about the matter - despite all the pressure from the press. Greece does not seem able to brake the curse of last minute decisions... |
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