This is a concert of well-known ensembles from the largest Balkan countries, such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Turkey and Greece. The main aim of the production is to promote Greece and the rest of the Balkan countries as a tourist destination; the concert also aims at promoting a spirit of co-operation among agencies and artists in the Balkan countries. It is a HATTA (HELLENIC ASSOCIATION OF TOURIST AND TRAVEL AGENCIES) production under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT). “Attract Productions” is in charge of the event.

Time: November 5-6, 2004

Place: Thessaloniki Concert Hall

GREECE

SAVINA YANNATOU & PRIMAVERA EN SALONICO Savina Yannatou is definitely one of the most important Greek performers of international acclaim. With her excellent ensemble Primavera en Salonicο, comprising wonderful soloist musicians, she presents specially selected folk and other songs from Greece and the Mediterranean.

For more than ten years she was a member of the Old Music Workshop; she sang medieval, renaissance and baroque songs, made recordings for radio and television and participated in festivals and workshops of electronic and improvisation music both as a performer and as a composer. In her truly successful career so far, Yannatou has composed music for documentaries, video-art and stage plays. Recently she has been involved in free improvisation, working with jazz and ethnic musicians. She has made numerous records with Primavera en Salonico; among them are “Primavera en Salonico”, “Songs from the Mediterranean”, “Madonnas of the World”, which became No 11 in the TOP 20 of World Music Europe Charts. In recent years, Yannatou has been one of the most frequently appearing Greek singers at International Festivals; wherever she performs she receives enthusiastic reviews by the most demanding music critics.

Besides Savina Yannatou in vocals, Primavera en Salonico includes Lefteris Angouridakis (percussion), Yannis Alexandris (oud, guitar, tabour), Kostas Vomvolos (zither, accordeon, caliba, tabur), Kyriakos Gouvendas (fiddle), Haris Lambrakis (ney, pipes), Michalis Siganidis (double bass). Kostas Vomvolos is responsible for musical arrangement and orchestration.

BULGARIA

«ANGELITE» BULGARIAN VOICES

One of the most complete, popular and top quality vocal ensembles in the world is the 20 member, legendary «Angelite» Choir. Those fortunate enough to attend their concerts take back with them the enchantment, magic and precision of these wonderful Bulgarian voices. Bulgarian choir music is traditionally performed by women. What makes the structure of the ensemble so special is the complexity and alternate rhythms they produce, with asymmetric meters, such as 5/8, 7/8, 15/8 or 17/8, as well as symmetrical ones and the complexity of the scales used, where diatonic scales prevail and perfectly combine with pentatonic ones from the Rodopi region and typical nuances of Thrace.

The «mysterious»– «Angelite» Bulgarian Voices comprise 20 members from the whole of Bulgaria, who have studied Bulgarian traditional music as well as Western-style music. Although it is often difficult for someone to tell if this choir ensemble is more traditional than classical, it is certainly one of the most important and well-known representatives of Balkan musical tradition in the world. They have successfully toured around the globe and have worked with top musicians and orchestras from every country of the world. In their last record entitled “Balkan Passion” they aim at featuring the exceptional Balkan music tradition with the co-operation of numerous Balkan artists – Maria Farandouri among them. The conductor of this wonderful choir ensemble is Valentin Velkov.

TURKEY

BURHAN OCAL & ISTANBUL ORIENTAL ENSEMBLE Burhan Ocal is probably one of the few Turkish artists who have achieved such great recognition combining so well Turkish musical tradition of the “Sultan Court” and folklore with modern jazz and contemporary Turkish classical music. The self-taught musician comes from a musical family and started playing various percussion instruments; this made him famous in his country. As soon as he had his first contact with European classical music his life and career changed course. From an excellent percussionist he has became a virtuoso of string instruments such as the saz and oud, while using his dynamic voice in a uniquely passionate manner. This is an artist who is not afraid of trying new things so international recognition was but a matter of time. At a Poetry Festival in Zurich, in 1979, Ocal made his first solo appearance, which was followed by others in the years to come. Thus, an almost unknown Turkish musician ended up playing in 1986 with pianist Maria Joao Pires and classical guitarist Elliot Fisk in unique musical schemes, using various features with no restrictions imposed. From that moment on there came numerous co-operation opportunities for the multi-talented musician with legendary figures such as Joe Zawinul, Peter Waters or Jamaaladeen Tacuma. In 1996, he established the group Istanbul Oriental Ensemble, which he made two successful records with; he was awarded the title of “artist of the year” by German critics. This wonderful ensemble accompanied him in the greatest tour a Turkish artist has ever made in the USA, where he received wonderful reviews and unprecedented response from the public. The ensemble comprises Burhan Ocal (percussion, tambourin, saz and vocals), Huseyin Bitmez (oud), Ekrim Basi (darbucca), Ferdi Nadaz (clarinet), Fetih Tekyaygil (fiddle), Sahin Sert (zither), Arif Erdebil (ney), Salih Nazim Peker (saz).

SERBIA

BOJAN RISTIC ORKESTAR

The leader of Gold Melos Brass band and well known trumpetist Bojan Ristic, comes from a family of top brass instrumentalists from Vladicin Han (Southern Serbia).

His grandfather, Zivojin Ristic, a top drummer, participated and collected prizes for the brass band of Januz Ismailovic. Zoran Ristic, Bojan’s father, followed the family tradition and played drums for Mica Petrovic, Svetozar Lazovic, Radojko Vitezovic, Boban Markovic and others. Bojan took his first steps on the music stage along with them and his father. His first appearance on stage was in Surdulica in 1997, when he won for the band the title of the best new brass band. In 2000 the orchestra won second prize in Guca, the most important brass festival in Europe, while in 2002 they won first brass band prize at the same festival. In the same year, at Wine Bowl in Vlasotince, Bojan Ristic’s band was named best brass band. At Gadzin Han Brass Band Festival, Bojan’s band received a standing ovation and the rhythm goes on.