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Rebetika
with Haroula Tsalpara, Gavrilos Kokonas and Plastikes Karekles
Tuesday 13th June 2023 @ The Methodist Church
Free Event!
Part of the Ensemble Reza midday concert series, featuring songs that mapped the musical landscape of Greece between the 1930s and early 1950s, including music by Skarvelis, Vamvakaris, Rovertakis, Papaioannou, Mitsakis, Tsitsanis and more. Visiting from Greece especially for this performance are two of the foremost musicians in rebetika currently performing, Haroula Tsalpara and Gavrilos kokonas. They are joined by Pavlos Carvalho and George Angelopoulos, who are known to audiences throughout the UK through their dedicated and regular performances of Greek music.
Musicians:
Haroula Tsalpara, voice/accordion
Gavrilos Kokonas, voice/guitar
George Angelopouos, baglama/bouzouki
Pavlos Carvalho, voice/bouzouki
Haroula Tsalpara was born in Athens. A classically trained musician, holding Conservatory diplomas in Piano Performance and Counterpoint, alongside her degree in Musical Studies, Haroula got involved in urban folk and traditional Greek music in 2005. An avid performer, teacher and organiser, with a keen interest in social issues, she has participated in a range of festivals, theatre performances and concerts celebrating the Eastern Mediterranean, conducted seminars and workshops on rebetiko and Greek traditional music, and founded Aptaliko NPO, which works to widen access and awareness of musical happenings in Greek folk music. Nowadays, alongside Aptaliko, she is a member of five groups and musical projects, and continues to perform the genres of the East Mediterranean, while also experimenting with new music.
Gavrilos Kokonas
Born on Thassos, Gavrilos Kokonas grew up surrounded by rebetika and songs from Asia Minor, and embarked on his musical journey aged fifteen, drawing on his family’s heritage. While working as a teacher in Alexandroupolis, he joined the troupe of the venerated Chronis Aidonidis in 1989, as a laouto, oud and saz player, and performed with him until 2005; in the following years he also released his own albums, composed music for the theatre, and performed with a number of celebrated musicians in Greece and around the world. He and his beloved Syrmatenia live (and fish!) on the island of Thassos.
Plastikes Karekles
An eclectic fusion of international and Greek musicians with roots from traditional Greek folk to classical and jazz. The group is known for its own arrangements of music by Theodorakis, Hadjidakis and Xarhakos featuring a fusion of classical string instruments with Greek traditional ones. They are also involved in the vibrant rebetiko scene and have set up the very popular Rebet Asker, Greek Roots series at the Green Note, London, dedicated to the music of Rebetiko which is now in its 11th year.
The musicians of the group have appeared at venues including the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, Royal Albert Hall, St David’s Hall as part of the Proms, King’s Place, as well as more intimate venues such as the Green Note and the Vortex.
“Plastikes Karekles represent a culture of reinvention as defiant and hopeful as the music itself.”
-Song Lines magazine
“Powerfully emotional, moving and involving”,
– Song Lines magazine
Event Details
Doors open: 12:00
Music starts: 12:30
Music finishes: 13:30
Haroula Tsalpara (here with Banda Iovanica):
Gavrilos Kokonas:
Plastikes Karekles:
