
Syros International Music Festival 2025
“The third edition of the International Syros Music Festival returns with the support of local cultural organizations and partners. The festival celebrates world-class musicians and offers rich musical events to the island’s community. With a dynamic program of concerts, educational activities involving local schools, performances by emerging talents, and various other cultural events, Syros will once again experience the magic of music.
This week of cultural immersion highlights the collaboration between renowned international artists and the vibrant local cultural scene, fostering connections that have a profound impact on the community. Aiming to make classical music both refined and accessible, the festival warmly invites everyone to participate in its artistic offerings.
For more information and the detailed program please visit the festival’s website
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/
October 21st – 20:30 – “Grand Opening“
To open the Syros International Chamber Music Festival in style, discover the richness and voluptuousness of the piano duo. The concert opens with Mozart’s Sonata for Two Pianos, the composer who will also close the festival. This is followed by two great Romantic works, Brahms’ Variations on a Theme of Haydn, and Rachmaninov’s first Suite, which he composed at the age of just 20. The work ends with a flight of bells evoking Easter. With Adam Laloum, we will be the architects of this opening evening.
Program and artists
Program
W.A. Mozart – Sonata for Two Pianos in D major, K. 448
Britten – Mazurka Elegiaca, Op. 23 No. 2
Intermission
Brahms – Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56b
Rachmaninov – Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, Op. 5
Artists
Adam Laloum Piano
Jonas Vitaud Piano
More information
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/events/grand-opening-two-pianos
October 22nd – 20:30 – “Grand Duo Piano Violin”
Discover this exceptional program for violin and piano! Adam Laloum and Mi-Sa Yang create a dialogue-fusion. The evening opens with a Bach sonata. The instruments dialogue with remarkable inventiveness, testifying to Bach’s love of the violin from an early age. Adam Laloum and Mi-Sa Yang then plunge us into two great Romantic masterpieces: Schumann’s “Grande sonate”, bursting with vitality and temperament, and César Franck’s renowned and passionate sonata.
Program and artists
Program
J.S. Bach – Sonata for Violin and Harpsichord No. 5, BWV 1018
Schumann – Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2, Op. 121
Intermission
Franck – Sonata for Violin and Piano
Artists
Mi-Sa Yang Violin
Adam Laloum Piano
More information
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/events/grand-duo-piano-violin
October 23rd – 20:30 – “Dvořák !“
This concert honors Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904), the great Czech composer.
Deeply rooted in the folk traditions of his country, he wrote music that carries within it an almost unsinkable energy, hope, and optimism. While some of his symphonic works and his cello concerto have become iconic, his piano music, melodies, and chamber music remain relatively unknown. This concert will showcase the passion, variety, and breadth of Czech musical genius!
Program and artists
Program
Dvořák – Eight Humoresques, Op. 101 (solo piano)
Dvořák – Sonatina in G major, Op. 100 (violin & piano)
Intermission
Dvořák – Gypsy Songs, Op. 55 (voice & piano)
Dvořák – Piano Quartet No. 2, Op. 87
Artists
Katherina Sandmeier Soprano
Mi-Sa Yang Violin
Yuko Har Viola
Yan Levionnois Cello
Adam Laloum Piano
Jonas Vitaud Piano
More information
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/events/dvorak
October 24th – 20:30 – “Ancient Greece, Greece of dreams“
This concert is a dialogue. Firstly, a dialogue between France and Greece, between French composers from the first half of the 20th century who dreamed of Greece and drew inspiration from it-Debussy, Emmanuel, Gaubert-and, secondly, two major figures in contemporary Greek creation-Iannis Xenakis (1922-2001) and Georges Aperghis (born in 1945)-who draw their inspiration from the great founding Greek myths. This dialogue will also take on a theatrical dimension. The musicians will be invited to listen to each other before playing together, as an allegory of Athenian democracy, a central and decisive political concept invented by the Greeks, never fully achieved and always fragile.
Program and artists
Program
Debussy – Dancers of Delphi (solo piano, from Préludes Book I)
Debussy – Syrinx (solo flute)
Debussy – Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun (flute & piano)
Aperghis – En un tournemain (solo viola)
Aperghis – Monomanie No. 3 (solo voice)
Ravel – Five Greek Popular Songs (voice & piano, sung in Greek)
Emmanuel – Suite on Greek Folk Tunes (violin & piano)
Intermission
Xenakis – Kottos (solo cello)
Xenakis – Dhipli Zyia (violin & cello)
Gaubert – Ancient Medals (flute, violin & piano)
Emmanuel – Three Anacreontic Odelettes, Op. 13 (voice, flute & piano)
Artists
Sharon Bezaly Flute
Katherina Sandmeier Soprano
Mi-Sa Yang Violin
Yuko Har Viola
Yan Levionnois Cello
Jonas Vitaud Piano
More information
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/events/ancient-greece-greece-of-dreams
October 25th – 20:30 – “Grand Gala“
A rich and varied gala concert to close the 2025 festival. In the first half, Greek soprano Katherina Sandmeier will guide us through the complex twists and turns of the Russian soul, with Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich. After the intermission, Swedish flutist Sharon Bezaly will introduce us to the richness of the 20th-century repertoire for flute and piano (Poulenc and Messiaen), before Mozart brings the festival full circle with his Quartet for Flute and Strings, K. 285.
Program and artists
Program
P.I. Tchaikovsky – October (from The Seasons, solo piano)
P.I. Tchaikovsky – Aria from Iolanta (soprano & piano)
P.I. Tchaikovsky – Letter Aria (Tatiana) from Eugene Onegin (soprano & piano)
D. Shostakovich – Seven Romances on Poems by Alexander Blok, Op. 127 (soprano, violin, cello & piano)
Intermission
Messiaen – Le Merle noir (flute & piano)
Poulenc – Sonata for Flute and Piano
W.A. Mozart – Flute Quartet No. 1 in D major, K. 285
Artists
Sharon Bezaly Flute
Katherina Sandmeier Soprano
Mi-Sa Yang Violin
Yuko Har Viola
Yan Levionnois Cello
Jonas Vitaud Piano
More information
https://www.syrosfestival.org/en/events/grand-gala
Start time 20:30
Ticket price: 8, 15 €
Tickets available via www.ticketservices.gr & at the “Apollon” theater box office
