• Yannis A. Papaioannou (1910-1989): 24 preludes pour piano, AKI 51
• Yannis Constadinidis (1903-1984): 8 Danses des Iles Greques
• Dimitry Levidis (1886-1951): Erste griechische romantische Sonate, Op. 16

With this programme, Cyprien Katsaris begins a series of recordings for Melism, dedicated to Greek music appearing after the country’s independence of 1821. The series will include works both discovered and rediscovered. The programme showcases works that are little played and known, as well as well known and admired compositions that are not frequently heard outside of Greece.With a considerable output of works written for what were sometimes rather unusual formations, Yannis Andreou Papaïoannou has lived through much of the twentieth century, and has written in a great diversity of styles. As Cyprien Katsaris observes:

“There is no question that, over and above the Debussyan influences, Papaïoannou has, with the original thinking behind his 24 Preludes, produced a true masterpiece. You need only listen to the cycle in its totality to savour the breadth of its flavours. It is beyond comprehension that this collection has been consigned to obscurity, together with the rest of the composer’s works. It is high time for this self-evidently significant composer to be rehabilitated.”

Yannis Constantinidis immediately imposes a personal and distinctive world of sound. He contrives with mastery and elegance to combine elements typical of musical impressionism with the Greek national heritage, in particular conjuring up rhythms and modes from Antiquity; (his idiosyncratic style is instantly recognisable). He can also be associated with a certain “French spirit”, in the sense that his works demonstrate great finesse both in elaboration and musical coloration.

This album introduces a significant work, the “First Greek Romantic Sonata” by Dimitry Levidis (1908), a youthful work which won him the Franz Liszt composition prize in Munich.

A second album will be exclusively dedicated to the piano music of Yannis Constantinidis and will include the three Sonatinas, the 44 Greek Miniatures, later renamed 44 Pieces for Children, and the two-piano version of the 8 Dances from Greek Islands.