From 3 to 22 August, the courtyard of the Church of the Saviour, Aura Beach and the stone Molfesis Theatre in Pacheiorachi will once again be transformed for another summer into venues for musical experiences, hosting artists from different generations and with diverse artistic sensibilities, under the artistic direction of Dora Bakopoulou and Elena Chounta.
Since its first edition to the present day, the Aegina Music Festival has staged more than 150 concerts featuring 570 musicians from Greece and abroad, earning a special place on the country’s cultural map and becoming a highlight of the island’s summer.
Aegina Festival, under the artistic direction of Dora Bakopoulou
This year’s programme opens on 3 August with arias and duets from the operatic repertoire, featuring soprano Eleni Calenos and baritone Tasos Apostolou, followed by concerts featuring guitarist Dimitris Soukaras and soprano Aphrodite Patoulidou (5 August), the internationally renowned pianist and artistic director of the Festival, Dora Bakopoulou, in collaboration with her friends and colleagues (7 August), as well as a tribute to the art of the piano featuring two distinguished performers, Manos Kitsikopoulos and Filivos Gatzios (9 August).
A special place in the programme is reserved for the musical evening featuring young singers, curated by artistic director Elena Chounta (11 August), as well as the recital by mezzo-soprano Lenia Zafeiropoulou with pianist Theodoros Tzovanakis (13 August).
The Minerva Duo will present a programme of popular music for clarinet and accordion, an event co-organised with the Austrian Embassy (17 August).
The finale will feature the melodies of Manos Hadjidakis, performed by Alkinoos Ioannidis and Elli Paspala, accompanied on the piano by Dora Bakopoulou (22/8)
Among the festival’s outstanding evenings is the chamber music concert featuring the internationally acclaimed Lily Maisky, Alisa and Natalia Margulis and Lyda Argerich, who will be performing alongside Odysseas Tsakalidis, a prize-winner at the «We Listen to the Young 2025», co-organised with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra (18 August) and, as every year, the Festival will bid farewell to its friends on Avra Beach, right by the sea. This year, the melodies of Manos Hadjidakis will take centre stage on this evening, performed by Alkinoos Ioannidis and Elli Paspala, accompanied on the piano by Dora Bakopoulou (22 August).
The educational nature of the Aegina Festival
Remaining true to its open and educational ethos, the Festival continues to offer reduced-price admission to the unemployed, people with disabilities and students, as well as free admission to students of the Aegina Music Association «Musa».
Before each concert, as is the case every year, there will be brief introductions to help the audience gain a better understanding of the works and their composers. The Aegina Music Festival is organised by Mission Art AMKE and Popi Malapani. All events begin at 21.00. Organised by: Mission Art AMKE. Produced by: Popi Malapani
Artistic direction: Dora Bakopoulou, Elena Chounta
Information & tickets: www.musicfestivalaegina.com
20th Aegina Music Festival / Full Programme
Monday 3 August: «Quanto amore!»: A concert celebrating romance and love through the operatic, musical theatre and Greek repertoires. Featuring soprano Eleni Kalenos and bass Tasos Apostolou. Dionysis Mallouchos at the piano.
The forecourt of the Church of the Saviour
Wednesday 5 August: “Serenades for the absent”, featuring works by Dowland, Britten, Ravel, Fauré, Riadis, Villa-Lobos, Tsitsanis, Landi and Sibelius. An evening of guitar and song with Dimitris Soukaras and Afroditi Patoulidou.
Molfesi Theatre in Pachiora
Friday 7 August: Dora Bakopoulou and Friends. The internationally renowned artistic director of the Aegina Music Festival, in collaboration with Nikos Mandylas, Krystalia Gaitanou and Christoforos Mirosnikov.
Intangible Heritage of the Church of the Saviour
Sunday 9 August: A tribute to the art of the piano featuring two talented virtuosos of the younger generation, Manos Kitsikopoulos and Filivos Gatzio, performing works by Beethoven, Liszt, Prokofiev, Chopin and Debussy
Intangible Heritage of the Church of the Saviour
Tuesday 11 August: Musical Night featuring talented young singers, curated by Elena Chounta. Featuring Marielena Kali, Nikolas Xanthopoulos, Achilleas Beleris and others.
Intangible Heritage of the Church of the Saviour
Thursday 13 August: White Nights – Songs and miniatures from the North
Lenia Zafeiropoulou and Thodoris Tzovanakis dedicate an evening to two major figures of late Romanticism from Northern Europe, Jean Sibelius and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. In their songs and short piano pieces, the two composers have much in common: both are often inspired by the folk tradition and the folksy ballads of their homeland, both love the dark and ominous pages of love poetry and often craft incomplete, enigmatic stories through their songs. Along with these, they share their vast expressive range, from the quiet inner monologue to the extroverted passion that often fearlessly reaches the point of dramatic lament, unrestrained confession and explosive joy. In their hands, the emotional boldness and love for the vernacular that have accompanied the Romantic movement from its very beginnings become the ripe, succulent fruits of a late summer.
Courtyard of the Church of the Saviour
Monday 17 August: Duo Minerva, featuring clarinettist Johanna Gossner and accordionist Damian Keller, presents a programme dedicated to the many facets of love, nostalgia and memory, through a captivating musical journey that spans eras, borders and musical genres. From French chanson and cinema to the Viennese tradition and contemporary compositions, the two musicians transform familiar melodies through imaginative arrangements for clarinet and accordion.
The concert is being organised in collaboration with the Austrian Embassy.
Molfesi Theatre in Pachiora
Tuesday 18 August: From the world’s major stages to the charming island of Aegina. An evening of chamber music featuring the international soloists Lily Maisky, Alisa Margulis and Lyda Argerich. They will be joined by Odysseas Tsakalidis, a distinguished winner of the “We Listen to the Young 2025” competition. The concert will be co-organised with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra.
Intangible Heritage of the Church of the Saviour
Saturday 22 August: Grand closing concert of the festival featuring Alkinoos Ioannidis and Elli Paspala performing favourite songs by Manos Hadjidakis. Dora Bakopoulou on piano.
Avra Beach
Source: iefimerida.gr – The Aegina Summer Festival is a great reason to visit the island – Events in churches, theatres and on beaches – iefimerida.gr