2nd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

The Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage returns for its second vibrant edition in June 2025, inviting the audience to a three-day, fascinating experience filled with sound and exhilarating rhythms. On 11, 12, and 13 June, the 2^nd Percussion Festival’s diverse programme, curated by percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, will feature unique concerts by distinguished ensembles and solo vocal performers, independent workshops for children and teenagers, as well as masterclasses, revealing the power and diversity of the world of percussion.

From the traditional percussion of Western Africa – inextricably tied to dancing and rituals – to the elaborate rhythmic motifs of the Balkans, and from Bach and Mozart’s harmonic strictness to Xenakis’ explosive genius, Astor Piazzola’s poetic intensity, and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s pensive frailty, the Percussion Festival uncovers a captivating sonic universe where rhythm transforms into a common language, bridging places, times, and cultures through the power of sound and body.

The 2^nd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage will introduce the world-famous percussion ensemble OPERcussion, which combines the wealth of musical tradition with daring innovation, to the Greek audience. The programme will also include concerts by the prolific drummer and composer Srdjan Ivanovic and his ensemble Modular, the vibrant group of musicians and dancers Seli Kanou under Antonis Papadopoulos’ musical supervision and with choreographies by Anna Karamitsou, the trio formed by the virtuosos Haig Yazdjian (oud, voice), Yiotis Kiourtsoglou (electric bass) and Vangelis Karipis (percussion, drums), as well as the distinguished flutist from the Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Jannis Anissegos, accompanied by the percussion ensemble Arrhythmic Percussion.

DETAILED PROGRAMME PER DAY

Wednesday, 11 June 2025 

Concert
Antonis Papadopoulos / Anna Karamitsou - African Vibes
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30

Antonis Papadopoulos percussion, musical supervision
Anna Karamitsou dance, percussion, choreographies
Musicians: Michalis Kiousis, Giorgos Christakis, Giouli Papageorgiou percussion
Dancers: Anna Karamitsou, Angeliki Loukaidi, Athina Pnevmatikatou, Konstantina Koulama, Kyriaki Kaleki, Alkistis Economopoulou, Dimitra Katsikadeli  

After years of research and study, musician and percussion teacher Antonis Papadopoulos, along with dancer, choreographer, and dance teacher Anna Karamitsou, and the fiery group of musicians and dancers Seli Kanou, invite the audience to a unique music and dance experience, brimming with passion and authentic energy from Western Africa. Titled African Vibes, this concert promises to take us on an enchanting journey through the most dynamic, ecstatic, and vibrant rhythms and dances of Western African culture. A concert that creates an atmosphere of celebration, expression, and freedom through the unbreakable connection between percussion and dance.

The African dance and percussion group Seli Kanou – which means “celebration of love” in Bambara, the main dialect of Mali – was formed in 2004 by Anna Karamitsou (artistic director, director, choreographer) and Antonis Papadopoulos (music supervisor) to promote the study and dissemination of African art and culture across Greece. The group’s dances, music, and songs are primarily rooted in the traditions of Western Africa, particularly those of Mali, Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and the Ivory Coast.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers that will be distributed one hour before the start of the concert (at 19.30) at the GNO Box Office.

Concert
Haig Yazdjian, Yiotis Kiourtsoglou, Vangelis Karipis
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 19.00

Three of the most important world-acclaimed Greek musicians, each with a distinct personal signature, join forces for a unique concert. Haig Yazdjian (oud, voice), Yiotis Kiourtsoglou (electric bass), and Vangelis Karipis (percussion, drums) collaborate as a trio in a concert filled with emotion, improvisation, and virtuosity. Relying on a well-established onstage chemistry, their live performances combine technical artistry with spontaneity and the magic of the moment.

The evening’s repertoire includes well-known and beloved pieces by Haig Yazdjian, as well as selections from the personal projects of Yiotis Kiourtsoglou (from the album Hapopsis) and Vangelis Karipis (with the ensemble Krotala). Furthermore, the audience will also have the chance to listen, for the first time, to new pieces that all three of them have composed jointly in view of their upcoming first album as a trio.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers that will be distributed one hour before the start of the concert (at 18.00) at the GNO Box Office.

Children’s workshop
Little Body Musicians
Designed and conducted by: Natasha Handa-Martin
GNO VIP Lounge – SNFCC
Starts at: 17.00 (age group: 7-10), 18.00 (age group: 10-12)

Body music, also known as body percussion or body drumming, is considered the earliest form of music on the planet. Before the construction of the first musical instruments, humans expressed rhythm by clapping their hands and feet, creating music through their own bodies.

Body music has now become a modern genre of high artistic value and a very enjoyable and inclusive teaching method intended to familiarize children with rhythm, polyrhythms, and other complex musical concepts. In the Little Body Musicians workshop, children will use their bodies to produce rhythms and work in pairs and groups to collaboratively create a rhythmic score through their common percussion instrument!

Participation in the workshop is free. Participants will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications can be submitted exclusively via the form you will find here until 6 June.

African percussion workshop
Djembe Stories
Designed and conducted by: Antonis Papadopoulos
With the participation of Anna Karamitsou
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 14.00

Musician and percussion teacher Antonis Papadopoulos will lead a comprehensive workshop on the African percussion instruments djembe and dundun. The workshop will take us on a journey through stories about rhythms, songs, the sounds and techniques of the instruments, improvisation, and polyrhythms, leading us to the present, all while playing and learning in a joyful and communicative manner. It will showcase the music and dance culture born in the villages of the Western African regions that has now spread not only across the entire African continent, but also throughout the world.

The workshop is aimed at individuals who have never been involved in music or percussion before, as well as professional musicians of different instruments, actors, or dancers who want to explore this particular percussion family and its associated rhythmology, or delve into the concept of rhythm and polyrhythm. Joining Antonis Papadopoulos will be dancer and dance teacher Anna Karamitsou, who will focus on the connection between percussion and dance.

Free admission

Workshop
Percussion Instruments In Greece and the Balkans
Designed and conducted by: Vangelis Karipis
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 12.30

Percussion virtuoso Vangelis Karipis is coming to the GNO Alternative Stage to lead a workshop that focuses on the role of percussion in Greek traditional music and the music styles of the Balkans. Through both practical and theoretical approaches, participants will explore rhythmology, techniques, and solos on drum and percussion sets, as well as the davul, darbuka, and riq.

Free admission

Thursday, 12 June 2025

Concert
Srdjan Ivanovic– Modular
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30

Ludivine Issambourg flute
Manu Codjia guitar
Matis Regnault double bass
Srdjan Ivanovic drums, compositions

Versatile drummer and composer Srdjan Ivanovic, born in Bosnia, raised in Greece, and artistically based in Paris, is coming to the 2nd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage with his band, Modular – an exceptional group of musicians –, to present a special concert programme of “music that is born and transformed on the spot”.

With a rich background in modern jazz, classical education, and Balkan musical traditions, the charismatic Ivanovic became famous for his ability to compose music that moves between lyricism, improvisation, and rhythmic experimentation. With his band – Modular –, which shares the name of their first album, he explores a modern sound infused with strong influences from Balkan rhythms, electronic elements, and jazz improvisations.

Performing alongside Srdjan Ivanovic are Manu Codjia (guitar), Matis Regnault (double bass), and Ludivine Issambourg (flute), each contributing their distinct artistic signature to the group’s sound while engaging in a dialogue between tradition and experimentation. “Modular is not just an ensemble – it is a live process. It is a space where composition, memory, and improvisation clash creatively. We are not interested in reproducing something static; we strive to tell stories born on the spot, with sounds that preserve human gestures and cultural memory. It is a music that breathes and changes – just like we do”, notes Srdjan Ivanovic, who has released nine albums throughout his career, exploring different styles and combinations of instruments and music.

Ticket prices: €12, €15 • Students, children: €10

Concert
Arrhythmic Percussion Group, Jannis Anissegos - Drum’n’Breath

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 19.00
Pieces by André Jolivet, George Crumb, Iannis Xenakis, Arvo Pärt, and Ryuichi Sakamoto

Jannis Anissegos flute
Kostas Argyropoulos, Dimitris Zacharakis, Panagio Karamouzi, Kazuyo Tsunehiro percussion

Distinguished flutist from the Thessaloniki State Orchestra Jannis Anissegos joins forces with the percussion musical ensemble Arrhythmic Percussion, consisting of Kostas Argyropoulos, Dimitris Zacharakis, Panagio Karamouzi, and Kazuyo Tsunehiro, to present a concert titled Drum’n’Breath.

This special concert is based on the rare and aesthetically appealing combination of flute and percussion. The five excellent musicians explore sound through physicality, rhythm, and breathing, rejuvenating original pieces through rare combinations that traverse the line between sound’s lyricism and ritualistic power.

The concert programme features pieces by prominent modern music composers: Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arvo Pärt, George Crumb, Iannis Xenakis, and André Jolivet. These five composers, hailing from different origins and backgrounds, share a common vision: to explore the mystery and rituals of all primitive expressions of humanity through the use of two of the earliest musical instruments, percussion and the flute.

The unadorned sounds of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s triangles create the setting for a brief ceremony. Fratres is one of the most characteristic works of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s musical style known as tintinnabula, which he describes as follows: “the moment and the eternity competing within us”. An Idyll for the Misbegotten, for flute and three percussionists by American composer George Crumb, is a human-centric piece with many theatrical elements. Iannis Xenakis’ Okho, written for the 200^th anniversary of the French Revolution, makes use of the exotic timbres of three djembes. Finally, in André Jolivet’s piece Suite en concert, four percussion instruments take the role of a full orchestra, as its alternative title is Concerto for flute No. 2.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers that will be distributed one hour before the start of the concert (at 18.00) at the GNO Box Office.

Masterclass
Drum Masterclass by OPERcussion
With Pieter Roijen
Rehearsal Hall of the GNO Orchestra – SNFCC • Duration: 14.00-17.00

The OPERcussion drum masterclass (for active participants and listeners) to be conducted by Dutch percussion soloist from the Bavarian State Orchestra, Pieter Roijen, is targeted at conservatory students studying at higher education institutions specializing in European percussion, and/or as professional musicians holding diplomas. Candidates will be required to perform only one piece for drums up to 4 minutes long. The participants are invited to preferably select études for drums from the methods of Keune, Knauer, Hochrainer, Krüger, Delecluse, Woud, and Bayer and/or orchestral excerpts.

Application submission deadline: 30/5 at 12.00.
More information/applications here.

Workshop
Grooving the Balkans
Designed and conducted by: Srdjan Ivanovic
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 12.00

Balkan folklore is a broad concept. Although traditional Romanian music may be quite different from that of island Greece, for example, there are many musical characteristics that bind them together. Another non-musical unifying factor is the richness of the shared musical legacy and its significance within the culture of Balkan populations.

In the Grooving the Balkans seminar, drummer and composer Srdjan Ivanovic will explore a series of creative ways of executing Balkan asymmetrical rhythms, which can lead to new possibilities for incorporating them into diverse musical styles. The insights Ivanovic acquired, primarily through his musical collaborations, and further developed through his own ideas, will be employed to activate participants, assisting both performers and composers in enhancing, personalizing, and applying this knowledge. The seminar is designed for drummers and percussionists, but it is also open to all musicians interested in expanding their rhythmic vocabulary and understanding of rhythm.

Free admission

Friday, 13 June 2025

Concert
OPERcussion
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30

Works by Dizzy Gillespie, Chick Corea, Gustav Mahler, Tania Maria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy, Astor Piazzolla, and Lira de San Cristobal.

Claudio Estay, Maxim Pidoux, Pieter Roijen, Tomàs Toral, Carlos Vera-Larrucea percussion

The 2^nd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage presents, for the first time in Greece, the internationally famous percussion ensemble OPERcussion – a one-of-a-kind ensemble that extracts the percussion section from the depths of the orchestra pit and thrusts it centre stage by blending rich music history with daring innovation.

In their concert, OPERcussion will present a diverse and dynamic programme of adapted pieces by a wide range of composers who bridge classical music with jazz, Latin music, and traditional forms. The programme will feature compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Claude Debussy, Gustav Mahler, Chick Corea, Dizzy Gillespie, Lira de San Cristobal, Astor Piazzolla, and Tania Maria. The concert will conclude with a surprise piece dedicated to the Greek audience.

OPERcussion is a pioneering and versatile percussion ensemble formed in 2008 by members of the Bavarian State Orchestra, one of the earliest and most prominent symphony orchestras in Germany, based in Munich. The ensemble consists of leading musicians Claudio Estay, Maxim Pidoux, Pieter Roijen, Tomàs Toral, and Carlos Vera-Larrucea. Each member contributes their technical skills, knowledge, cultural background, and unique artistic signature to the ensemble. The ensemble was created to bring out the musical polyphony of percussion instruments and to renew the tradition of orchestral music by connecting it to modern forms of expression and improvisatory elements. Their performances are marked by a high artistic standard, theatricality, and an intercultural approach, winning over audiences and critics alike in Europe, Asia, and America. “Our mission is to place percussion at the centre of musical storytelling – not merely as accompanying instruments, but as an equal, expressive, and dynamic voice. OPERcussion dares to cross the boundaries between tradition and experimentation, transforming well-known pieces with new textures, tempos, and volume levels. Where others see accompaniment, we see protagonists.”

OPERcussion has expanded its repertoire by adapting works not originally written for percussion—from the Baroque, Classical, and Impressionist periods—while also drawing inspiration from the musical tradition of Latin America. At the same time, the ensemble collaborates with contemporary composers, commissioning new pieces from them, and often incorporates elements of improvisation in its live performances.

Ticket prices: €12, €15 • Students, prices: €10

Masterclass
Solo and Orchestral Percussion Masterclass
Featuring the percussion ensemble OPERcussion
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Duration: 14.00-17.00

The masterclass (intended for active participants and listeners) led by the ensemble OPERcussion is designed for conservatoire students studying at higher education institutions specializing in European percussion, and/or as professional musicians holding diplomas. Candidates will be required to perform only one solo piece up to 7 minutes long (without piano accompaniment or prerecorded electronics) on one of the following instruments: marimba (5 octaves C2 - C7), xylophone (4 octaves C4 - C8), vibraphone (3 octaves F3 - F6), and snare drum. Moreover, candidates may choose one of Iannis Xenakis’ two pieces: Rebonds Α or Rebonds B for percussion set.

Application submission deadline: 30/5 at 12.00.
More information/applications here

Orchestral Percussion Workshop by OPERcussion
Designed and conducted by: OPERcussion
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 11.00

The members of the distinguished percussion ensemble OPERcussion from the Bavarian State Opera will lead a workshop dedicated to analysing orchestral percussion techniques and their application to symphonic repertoire. The workshop will focus on the following instruments: snare drum, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, and gran cassa.

Free admission

The production “2nd PERCUSSION FESTIVAL OF THE GNO ALTERNATIVE STAGE” is part of the GNO Alternative Stage’s unit of programming titled “CYCLE OF THEMATIC CONCERTS”, which falls under the ACT “FESTIVAL EVENTS OF THE GNO ALTERNATIVE STAGE 2024-2025” » (MIS 6002467) with code 2024ΕΠ08570049 (Priority: “Fostering regional social cohesion through the enhancement of mechanisms and infrastructure to support employment, education, health care and socioeconomic inclusion” of the programme “Attica 2021-2027) and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Resources.