NEW YORK – The Hellenic-American Cultural Foundation (HACF) presented the enchanting concert, Poetic Soundscapes: Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin and Alexia Mouza, on February 5 at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in New York City.
The New York debut of two premier Greek musicians of the next generation, cellist Timotheos Gavriilidis-Petrin and pianist Alexia Mouza, delighted the audience with an impressive program featuring romantic pieces- Janáček’s Pohádka (A Tale), Poulenc’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Papandopulo’s Rapsodia Concertante, and Brahms’ Sonata No. 2 in F Major, which centers on the romantic notion of thought, passion and self, one of the most striking compositions for cello and piano, highlighting the musicians’ impressive range and skill. The talented Gavriilidis-Petrin and Mouza, working together seamlessly, moved the audience with their artistry and emotionally-stirring performance.
After receiving enthusiastic and extended applause and taking two curtain calls, Gavriilidis-Petrin and Mouza returned for a charming encore that once again impressed all those in attendance.
Audience members look forward to hearing more from these gifted artists.
Nicholas Kourides, HACF Chairman, gave the welcoming remarks, noting the extraordinary talent of the Greek musicians and that the accomplishments of both Gavriilidis-Petrin and Mouza “have been praised for their technical excellence, incredible energy, and passion.”
Born in Thessaloniki, Gavriilidis-Petrin regularly appears as a soloist and chamber musician throughout North America and Europe, most recently as a soloist with conductor-violinist Leonidas Kavakos and the Athens State Symphony Orchestra. As a prize winner at the International Paulo Cello Competition, Gavriilidis-Petrin was praised for his “great and passionate soloist style.” He is a member of the ApollΩn Ensemble, a chamber music group founded by Kavakos, and a founding member of Trio Zimbalist.
Mouza is a Greek-Venezuelan pianist known for her extraordinary energy, clarity of sound, and precision. She has received numerous awards, and has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In his introduction, Kourides noted that Mouza “has been winning prizes in international piano competitions since the age of 11.”
She has appeared as a soloist with the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra Sinfonica del Estado de México, the Haydn Orchestra of Bolzano, and the State Symphony Orchestras of Athens and Thessaloniki.
She has given concerts at the leading concert halls around the world including in New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the Hong Kong Concert Hall, Konzerthaus Berlin and Berlin’s Philharmonie, the Sala Verdi di Milano, the Sala Simon Bolivar, Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna and the Mozarteum Salzburg.
Kourides said that “of the over 40 major events that HACF has sponsored 25 percent have included musical presentations, we have featured young musicians and provided a forum for them to demonstrate their skills and passion, tonight is no exception and is consistent with that pattern.”
Kourides also thanked Maria Asteriadou, a member of the HACF Board. “She is an accomplished and renowned pianist and helps to plan our musical events, having a resource like Maria on the Board is an immense benefit and, in fact, a privilege,” Kourides said. “She planned tonight’s event and is a dynamic force in the world of classical music.”
A reception followed the performance during which audience members had the opportunity to congratulate Gavriilidis-Petrin and Mouza and wish them all the best in their endeavors.
For more information on HACF, visit: https://www.hacfoundation.org/.
