Official launch of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union in London – «Greek music through the ages» Concert at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia

To mark the opening of the Greek Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers (January-June 2014), the Embassy of Greece hosted on Wednesday, 22 January 2014 a concert featuring a journey of Greek music through the centuries, from antiquity to our times, via Byzantium , folk and popular traditions. The concert took place at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia in Bayswater, Central London, an English Heritage Grade I Listed building, recognized as an early and important instance of the neo-Byzantine style in England and the inspiration behind the Arts and Crafts movement. The programme of the concert included a performance by the Zacharias Quartet, a critically-acclaimed ensemble of London-based musicians led by Mr. Zacharias, Academic tutor at the Royal Academy of Music. The St. Sophia Choir (established in 1848) performed two Byzantine hymns in the mystical environment of the Cathedral, lit by candles. The concert was an opportunity for the audience to enjoy music composed c. 200 B.C. by Seikilos of Ephesus, which constitutes the oldest surviving example of a complete musical composition, including musical notation, as it was found in the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen.

The Concert’s Programme included: the «Akathist Hymn» by St Romanos the Melodist, Traditional Byzantine Liturgical «Trisagion», «Epitaph Hymn» by Seikilos of Ephesus, Traditional Post Byzantine Melody, «As a small bird sings» by Nikolaos Mantzaros, «The muleteer» by Nikos Hatziapostolou , «Musical moments» by Argyris Kounadis, «The little cypress tree» by Manos Hatzidakis, «String Quartet no.2: Fourth Movement» (World Premiere) by Nikos Harizanos, «36 Greek Dances» by Nikos Skalkotas.

The Greek Ambassador Mr. Konstantinos Bikas welcomed almost 300 guests, including His Eminence the Archbishop Gregorios of  Thyateira and Great Britain, Lord Boswell of Aynho, Chairman of the European Union Committee of the House of Lords, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr. Koji Sekimizu, Ambassadors of EU member states in London, British parliamentarians, journalists, academics  as well as representatives of the Greek community, members of the Greek Shipping Cooperation Committee, bankers, academics, other professionals and students.