ANTONIS ANISSEGOS - SISSY MAKROPOULOU: PH

The duo from Berlin explores the potential of an unusual combination of instruments (piano and harp) for three different styles.
First up is A. Anissegos' work, Between the Flame and the Cloud, in which the two instruments merge to the strains of jazz and expressionism. The piece was completed in February 1990 as urged by Maria Bildea, teacher at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki. As A. Anissegos says, ''It is one of a series of spontaneous compositions that I wrote prior to studying composition abroad and before my Piano Diploma at the S.C.T. in 1991. It wasn't until 28 years later that it was performed for the very first time, by Sissy Makropoulou, at the Music Village of Summer 2018.''
The move towards impressionism is alluring as tropical harmonies sweep us along to Debussy and Ravel, widely considered as definers of the sound of the harp. Debussy's Dances for harp and strings (1904) and Ravel's Introduction et Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet (1907) will be performed with a twist for harp and piano.
So, in short, what do we have today? A deconstruction – fleeting comment - and a free improvisation conveyed in an unknown language.