Dinos Constantinides

Recording reviews of Dinos Constantinides' The Oracle at Delphi include the following comments. According to the American Record Guide (November/December 2001), the composition is "a rich, mesmerizing, intense tapestry of Greek folksong transformed by the use of fourths and fifths that simply bewitch the ears. . . . . A beautiful work." Fanfare (November/December 2001) reports that "Its modal harmonies and rhapsodically shifting rhythms bring his Greek heritage to the fore. It is a highly evocative and haunting piece." Gramophone (October 2001) states that it "distills an atmospheric mood of rapt mysticism in nine minutes . . . ." In 2002, concerts of his music occurred in Greece, with the Athens Municipality Orchestra, October 9; with the Greek Saxophone Society, in Athens, October 20, 2002; with Sychrono Odeion of Athens, October 21, 2002; and with Sychrono Odeion of Thessaloniki, October 12.

Premieres

Heard first in 2002 in Baton Rouge, LA, were Percussion Quartet, April 17; Landscape I for String Orchestra, with the Louisiana Sinfonietta, May 5; and Penguin Parade, with the Louisiana Sinfonietta, seven times in Baton Rouge libraries. The premiere of Paraphrase of Theofilos, for saxophone and guitar, took place at the University of Leicester (England, May 7, 2002. Songs from Epirus was introduced in Thessaloniki, Greece, October 12, 2002.

Performances

In 2002, performances in Greece included Grecianas Brazileiras for Flute and String Orchestra, with Iwona Glinka and the Athens Chamber Ensemble, April 8; Mutability Fantasy for Saxophone and Piano, in Thessaloniki, May 16; Idyll for Violin and Piano, in Athens, May 17; Oracle at Delphi, at the International Festival in Crete, July, 25; and Music for Saxophone Quartet, at the Sani Festival, August 30. The Metropolitan Greek Chorale sang Three Modes from Antigone, June 2, 2002, at Merkin Hall, in New York, NY. Music for Four Bassoons was heard in Bucharest, Romania, May 21, 2002. On programs in Baton Rouge were Patterns for Violin and Orchestra, with the Louisiana Sinfonietta, November 17, 2002; The Dancing Turtle, for reader, flute, and strings, and Grecianas Brazileiras, with the Louisiana Sinfonietta, both January 12, 2003. In 2003, the one-act opera Intimations will be staged in Athens, Greece, March 16, and in Boston, March 24.

Publications

The Penguin Parade, bass viol, flute, and strings; A Little Song for Iwona, Reflections VIII (Quotations for Three), Songs from Epirus; all by Magni Publications.

Recordings

Concerto of Psalms, Elsa and Walter Verdehr, Crystal Records

The 2003 American Composers Update