200 Years of Ermoupoli

The Études d'exécution transcendante began as simple exercises in 1826 — the year of Ermoupoli's founding — when Liszt was just fifteen. They evolved into twelve towering virtuoso pieces, published in their final form in 1852. These four études (Nos. 7-10) showcase the full scope of Liszt's revolutionary piano technique: "Eroica" (No. 7) is heroic and noble, "Wilde Jagd" (No. 8) is a tempestuous hunt, "Ricordanza" (No. 9) unfolds with nostalgic tenderness, and No. 10 in F minor drives forward with relentless energy.

This early Polonaise in G-flat major, known as "Les Adieux" or "Farewell," was composed around 1826 when Chopin was just sixteen. Written as a parting gift for his friend Wilhelm Kolberg, it already shows the young Chopin's distinctive melodic voice and his instinctive command of the polonaise form. A touching document of the composer's youth.

The Rondo à la Mazur, Op. 5 in F major (1826) is one of Chopin's earliest published works. It combines rondo form with the rhythmic character of the mazurka, blending salon brilliance with folk-inspired charm. The piece is both a virtuoso display and a precocious foretaste of the mazurka style that would become one of Chopin's most personal modes of expression.

Gershwin originally conceived a set of preludes for piano, of which three were published in 1926–27 and became classics of the American piano repertoire. Their jazz-inflected harmonies, bluesy melodies and rhythmic vitality capture the energy of 1920s America. Additional unpublished preludes from the same period complete this set of five, offering a broader view of Gershwin's exploration of the border between classical and popular music.

"Les Adieux, in the manner of Janáček" is a short, concentrated piano piece by the Hungarian composer György Kurtág. It pays homage to the Czech master Leoš Janáček's distinctive style — terse, emotionally charged phrases with sudden silences. Kurtág distills the essence of farewell into a miniature of extraordinary intensity, characteristic of his lifelong exploration of small forms with vast emotional reach.

Composition VII is a recent piano work by Sofia Avramidou, the festival's composer-in-residence. The piece continues her series of numbered "Compositions" that explore the piano's timbral and dynamic possibilities through a personal language that integrates contemporary techniques with deeply expressive musical thought.

To celebrate the bicentenary of Ermoupoli, Sofia Avramidou reveals another facet of her talent: as a singer and specialist of Greek traditional music. This closing programme features new arrangements of Greek folk melodies — including songs by Markos Vamvakaris, the legendary rebetiko musician born on Syros — for voice and two pianos. A celebration of the island's musical heritage and its deep connection to Greek popular culture.