In the summer of 2026, the “Yannis Mantakas” Choir of AUTh made its debut at the Eptapyrgio Festival, one of Thessaloniki’s most distinctive cultural institutions. The Festival, hosted within the atmospheric courtyard of the historic fortress, has become a meeting point for music, poetry, and contemporary artistic creation, a place where tradition and innovation coexist under the open sky.
The Choir participated in two sold out concerts dedicated to the poetry of Giorgos Seferis, contributing to a programme that highlighted the lyrical depth and symbolic resonance of the Nobel laureate’s work. These appearances marked an important milestone for the ensemble, not only because of the Festival’s prestige, but also due to a rare artistic moment: the world premieres of new songs by composer Giorgos Kazantzis, set to poems by Seferis. The unveiling of these works added a unique dimension to the Festival’s programme and underscored the Choir’s role in bringing new Greek choral repertoire to life.
The performances also renewed the Choir’s collaboration with the Plaza Ensemble, with whom it has developed a strong artistic rapport. Together, they shaped a sound world that combined clarity, expressiveness, and a deep respect for the poetic material.
The Choir’s first appearance at the Eptapyrgio Festival stands as a highlight of its artistic season — a moment where music, poetry, and place converged to create an experience of exceptional aesthetic coherence.
Programme:
- Mikis Theodorakis (arr. Giannis Polymereris): I Kept My Life
- Dimos Moutsis (arr. Thanasis Bililis): And If the Wind Blows
- Giorgos Kazantzis: A Bottle in the Open Sea
- Giannis Markopoulos (arr. Thanasis Bililis): Our Land Is Closed
- Giorgos Kazantzis: Erotic Speech
- Giorgos Kazantzis: I Am Sorry
- Dimos Moutsis (arr. Kostas Tsougras): The Harbour Is Old
- Giorgos Kazantzis: The Return of the Exile
- Mikis Theodorakis (arr. Giannis Polymereris): Denial
- Mikis Theodorakis (arr. Kostas Tsougras): Just a Little Longer and We Shall See
Participants:
- Text & Literary Study: Anna Mykoniou
- Direction: Athanasios Kolalás
- New Compositions & Orchestrations: Giorgos Kazantzis
- Plaza Ensemble (Piano & Orchestrations: Thanasis Bililis
- Violin: Akis Archontis
- Accordion & Orchestrations: Kostas Tsougras
- Double Bass & Mandolin & Orchestrations: Giannis Polymereris)
- Vocals: Dimitris Zervoudakis, Pantelis Theocharidis, Eleni Dimopoulou
- Narration / Recitation: Grigoris Valtinos
- Clarinet: Odysseas Karydis
- Cello: Evi Kazantzi
- Percussion: Vicky Chouzouri
- Yannis Mantakas Choir, AUTh
- Erifili Damianou, choir preparation
- Production: Cultural Center of the Region of Central Macedonia as part of the Eptapyrgio Festival 2026
