Axiotis: Orchestral Works New Festival Opera-Symphony Orchestra Sofia & Byron Fidetzis

• Georgios Axiotis (1875 - 1924): Sunset (Ed. B. Fidetzis):
• 1Axiotis: Sunset (Ed. B. Fidetzis)08:54
• Prelude and Fugue (Ed. B. Fidetzis):
• 2Axiotis: Prelude and Fugue (Ed. B. Fidetzis)11:32
• A Love Trilogy:
• 3Axiotis: A Love Trilogy: I. On the Mountain11:12
• 4Axiotis: A Love Trilogy: II. On the Plain12:16
• 5Axiotis: A Love Trilogy: III. At the Ball11:27
• Remembrance From a Ball (Ed. B. Fidetzis):
• 6Axiotis: Remembrance From a Ball (Ed. B. Fidetzis)09:02
• Lyrical Intermezzo (Ed. B. Fidetzis):
• 7Axiotis: Lyrical Intermezzo (Ed. B. Fidetzis)05:34
• Like a Game (Ed. B. Fidetzis):
• 8Axiotis: Like a Game (Ed. B. Fidetzis)07:05
• Total Runtime01:17:02

Info for Axiotis: Orchestral Works

Georgios Axiotis was a leading and historically significant Greek composer who was opposed to the ‘Germanisation’ of music education in Greece. His training in Naples led him to conceive of national music of a mediterranean quality related to the naturalism of Italian verismo. The works on this album are his most important and lasting contributions to Greek orchestral music. Axiotis possessed an exceptional instinct for balance and timbre and was a splendid orchestrator. The lyricism in these pieces exudes Greek late Romanticism, while his nature depictions are strongly atmospheric.

New Festival Opera-Symphony Orchestra Sofia
Byron Fidetzis, conductor

The New Festival Opera-Symphony Orchestra Sofia
was founded in 1999 by Georgi Koev. The orchestra’s activities consist of making recordings and touring Europe (including Greece and Spain).

The members of the ensemble are young musicians with established skills both as orchestral players and soloists. Lilya Koeva-Vladimirova is the orchestra’s leader.

In 2001 the New Festival Opera-Symphony Orchestra Sofia recorded works by the composer Georgios Axiotis at the hall of the State Academy of Music ‘Prof. Pancho Vladigerov’, and while on tour in Greece it recorded Manolis Kalomiris’ opera Anatoli (‘Sunrise’).

Byron Fidetzis
was born in Thessaloniki and studied cello and advanced theory at the State Conservatory before moving to Austria to train at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.

He has been conductor and artistic director of orchestras including the Athens State Orchestra, Thessaloniki City Symphony Orchestra, Greek National Opera and Pazardjik Symphony Orchestra. Since 2016 he has been artistic director of the Athens Philharmonia Orchestra.

For Naxos, Fidetzis has recorded Samaras’ opera Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle (8.660508-09) and Kalafati’s Symphony in A minor, Légende and Polonaise (8.574132). He also orchestrated and performed Kalomiris’ Rhapsody No. 2 ‘Song to the Night’ (8.572451) and recorded with the Athens State Orchestra Kalomiris’ Symphony No. 3, Triptych and Three Greek Dances (8.557970).

Fidetzis is the recipient of the Spyros Motsenigos Music Award, the Great Music Award and is an honorary member of the Greek Composers Association. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the school of philosophy, department for musical studies of the University of Athens.

Booklet for Axiotis: Orchestral Works