3rd Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

Following two successful editions, the Percussion Festival of the GNO Alternative Stage returns for a third, and most ambitious, run, offering a three-day experience dedicated to the art of percussion and to the dialogue among diverse musical traditions. Scheduled for 1, 2, and 3 July 2026, the Percussion Festival, curated by percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, invites audiences to a fascinating experience of sound and vibrant rhythms that will shake up the GNO Alternative Stage at the SNFCC.

The 3rd Percussion Festival features renowned international soloists, distinguished Greek musicians, and emerging artists, offering audiences a diverse programme of concerts, workshops, masterclasses, and educational events. The Festival spans a wide range of the contemporary percussion scene, underscoring its role as one of the most important meeting points in Greece and Europe.

The first day of the Festival (Wednesday, 1/7) will feature the internationally acclaimed percussionist Ruven Ruppik at the GNO Alternative Stage, where he will present a programme combining jazz with strong Mediterranean and Eastern influences, accompanied by his trio – the distinguished Dutch pianist Tony Roe and qanun virtuoso Khalil Khoury. On the same day, Ruppik will also conduct a specialized seminar on the hybrid percussion set based on the cajón and its contemporary applications.

Next, vibraphonist Vangelis Paraskevaidis and his ensemble – a modern jazz-fusion group that blends improvisation with electric sounds and polyrhythmic structures and consists of Vangelis Paraskevaidis (vibraphone), Menios Gounaris (percussion), Panagiotis Bourazanis (electric bass), and Christos Vigos (drums) – will present a concert featuring music from their album titled Electrolytes. On the same day, Vangelis Paraskevaidis will lead a vibraphone improvisation seminar focused on the art of jazz improvisation.

Τhe day’s programme will begin with percussion soloist Marinos Tranoudakis, who will present a special concert titled “The Timpani Project,” dedicated to orchestral timpani. The concert will highlight the timpani's solo role, showcasing their sound and expressive potential through an original lineup of works. It will feature compositions by Johann Carl Christian Fischer, Étienne Perruchon, and Nick Bowd – all of whom have decisively contributed to both the expansion of the timpani repertoire and the development of their technical capabilities. Joining Tranoudakis onstage will be the brass wind ensemble Melos Brass and cellist Nikolaos Prevezianos.

The second day (Thursday, 2/7) will feature two leading percussion soloists from Germany: the internationally acclaimed percussionist and composer Alexej Gerassimez and the renowned drummer and educator Benny Greb.

Alexej Gerassimez, one of the most important representatives of the modern solo percussion scene, will conclude the day with a unique concert titled “Black Mountain”, in which he will perform alongside emerging young Greek and Cypriot percussionists. He will also conduct a masterclass for active participants.

The masterclass will be preceded by a concert by Benny Greb, featuring compositions and improvisations that showcase his distinctive personal style. In the morning of that same day, Greb will also hold a drum seminar titled “From Good to Great: The Five Components of Musicality in Drums,” where he will share his philosophy on modern sound, rhythmic perception, and creative approaches to drum sets.

The third and final day of the Festival (Friday, 3/7) will conclude with a powerful concert dedicated to Cuban music, featuring the charismatic singer Rosanna Mailan and her band performing a programme of Latin rhythms and Cuban energy. The concert will also feature Cuban musician Carlos Menendez, who will also present a seminar on the rhythmology and technique of traditional Cuban percussion, focusing on the instruments congas, bongos, timbales, and Batá, and highlighting the Afro-Cuban roots and techniques that have shaped contemporary Latin-American music. The day’s programme will also include an inclusive, multisensory body percussion workshop titled “b(l)alloon” designed for individuals with or without visual or hearing disabilities. The workshop will be conducted by the Blip Inclusive Sensory Project group, which consists of Yiota Peklari, Natasha Martin, Vassia Zorbali, Olga Dalekou, Thanos Daskalopoulos, and Christos Koutsovasilis. The event will conclude with the presentation of the performative installation “b(l)alloon,” a dynamic soundscape created through deep listening and group coordination practices.

3^rd PERCUSSION FESTIVAL OF THE GNO ALTERNATIVE STAGE – DETAILED PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Concert

Electrolytes
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 22.00

Vangelis Paraskevaidis (vibraphone), Menios Gounaris (keyboard), Panagiotis Bourazanis (electric bass), Christos Vigos (drums)

Vibraphonist and composer Vangelis Paraskevaidis presents music from his second personal album titled Electrolytes. The album, which combines the vibraphone’s ethereal sound textures with numerous musical genres, brims with an endless spirit of experimentation – on a wide array of instruments, all recorded by the composer himself in his home studio – and promises to lead audiences to a unique musical experience. Electrolytes is the result of Paraskevaidis’ continuous improvisatory and compositional pursuit of new sounds and groundbreaking approaches to music, created during a particularly challenging time for humanity.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 21.00).

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Concert

Ruven Ruppik Trio

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30

Khalil Khoury (qanun), Tony Roe (piano), Ruven Ruppik (percussion)

German drummer and composer Ruven Ruppik is one of the most active figures in the contemporary European jazz scene and in musical improvisation. With a strong presence at international festivals and numerous collaborations that bridge diverse musical traditions, he has developed a personal musical idiom in which rhythm serves as both a creative force and a field for dialogue.    

At the 3^rd Percussion Festival, he will perform with his trio, which also comprises Khalil Khoury on the qanun and Tony Roe on the piano, presenting a unique programme that combines original compositions, improvisation, and influences from modern jazz and Eastern Mediterranean musical traditions. Through the interplay among these three musicians, the concert will highlight the dynamics of group improvisation and the constant pursuit of new sonic and rhythmic paths.  

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

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Concert
The Timpani Project

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 19.00

Marinos Tranoudakis (timpani, percussion), Nikolaos Prevezianos (violoncello)

Melos Brass: Antonis Lagos (horn), Spyros Arkoudis, Sofia Siora (trumpets), Ioannis Kokkoris, George Krimperis (trombones), Menelaos Moraitis (tuba)

The Timpani Project is a unique concert dedicated to orchestral timpani and their role as soloists in contemporary and historical musical creation. Through a highly demanding and original programme, the concert highlights the richness of timbre, virtuosity, and expressive potential of an instrument that usually serves a supportive role within an orchestra, but here becomes the protagonist. The programme features works from different eras and aesthetic directions, from the early classical period to contemporary music, presenting the development of timpani technique and repertoire over time. Among the featured works are Johann Carl Christian Fischer’s Symphony with Eight Obligato Timpani, transcribed for a brass quintet by Dariya Maminova; Dutch timpanist and composer Nick Woud’s The Token; and French composer Étienne Perruchon’s  Cinq Danses Dogoriennes, for five timpani and violoncello. The concert will come complete with the solo piece Lauferei by Finnish composer and percussionist Jani Niinimäki.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 18.00).

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Workshop
Between Traditions: Rhythmic Language in a Hybrid Set of Percussion

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 12.00

Designed & conducted by: Ruven Ruppik

Ruven Ruppik’s workshop explores the development of a hybrid percussion set that combines instruments and rhythmic concepts from diverse musical traditions into a single musical language. The set includes instruments such as the cajon, snare drum, hi-hat, bombo legüero, udu, and electronics, each contributing its own cultural background, sonic world, and performance style. Drawing on flamenco, Arabic classical music, Hindustani Indian classical music, and Latin-American traditions, this workshop focuses on how these influences can co-exist within a contemporary context for percussion music.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 11.00).

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Masterclass

Exploring the Art of Jazz Improvisation– A Development Method

Designed & conducted by: Vangelis Paraskevaidis

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 13.30

The jazz vibraphone masterclass by Vangelis Paraskevaidis is aimed at musicians who want to delve deeper into the language of jazz, rhythmic and harmonic perception, and vibraphone improvisation techniques. It will focus on how we construct melodic lines when the vibraphone serves as a solo instrument and how we create engaging harmonic textures when it serves as an accompaniment instrument.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 12.30).

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Concert

Benny Greb Trio
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 21.00

Jan Yanochkin piano

Ralph Klinzmann double bass

Benny Greb drums

German drummer Benny Greb, one of the most acclaimed musicians worldwide, is coming to perform with his trio, offering a fresh approach to the classic jazz trio format – piano, double bass, and drums – through new, original material marked by intense grooves, powerful melodies, and well-crafted interplay among the musicians. Along with Ralph Klinzmann on the double bass and Jan Yanochkin on the piano, the ensemble combines tradition with a modern musical aesthetic, moving naturally between subtle sonic textures and powerful, groove-based moments. Following several highly successful appearances in Germany, this project offers us the chance to get to know an ensemble that stands out for its musical depth, clarity, and communication – under the guidance of one of the most remarkable drummers in today’s music scene.

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

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Concert

Black Mountain

Alexej Gerassimez

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 19.00

Alexej Gerassimez solo percussion

Anastasia Vlachou, Yorgos Melios, Giorgos Tsaousis, Zina Christodoulou percussion

Internationally acclaimed German composer and percussionist Alexej Gerassimez ranks among the most prominent figures in modern music and improvisation. For him, composition and performance are inseparable forms of artistic expression. Although percussion offers one of the greatest and most colourful sound worlds in music, he often deliberately chooses to limit himself, focusing on a single instrument and exploring its sonic potential in depth. This self-imposed limitation turns into a kind of creative incubator: a space that fosters concentration, intensity, and imagination, through which new musical ideas are born and ultimately strive to free themselves. Bodix for percussion quartet without any instruments is the most extreme form of this approach. The concert culminates with the work Black Mountain, from his recently released album of the same name. Inspired by concepts such as inner landscapes, resistance, and transformation, the work is presented here not in its concerto version for marimba, vibraphone, and orchestra, but in its rawest and most dynamic form for a percussion quartet. 

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

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Masterclass
Percussion masterclass

Designed & conducted by Alexej Gerassimez

Rehearsal Hall of the GNO Orchestra – SNFCC • Starts at: 14.00

Alexej Gerassimez presents a percussion masterclass that focuses on the performance, sound, and technical capabilities of percussion instruments. Active participants will present a solo work for marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, or snare drum, up to 7 minutes long, without piano accompaniment or pre-recorded electronics. Each participant may choose a work for one of the above instruments, or they may perform one of the works Rebonds A or Rebonds B by Iannis Xenakis for a percussion set.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 13.00).

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Workshop
From Good to Great: The Five Components of Musicality in Drums

Designed and conducted by: Benny Greb

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 12.00

What distinguishes a good drummer from a truly great one? In this interactive masterclass, Benny Greb reveals the key elements that make the difference and how to develop them in real-world musical contexts. Through live presentations and practical ideas, the audience will attend a targeted, entertaining, and inspired workshop, filled with concepts and tools that can be practically applied immediately.

Participation fee: €10

Friday, 3 July 2026

Concert
Ritmos de Cuba
Rosanna Mailan
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 20.30

Rosanna Mailan, Juan Manuel (singing), Dimitris Papadopoulos (trumpet), Lázaro Castro (piano), Yoel Soto (electric bass), Carlos Menendez (percussion)

A night filled with rhythm, passion, and genuine Cuban energy. Singer Rossana Mailan from Havana, Cuba, with a long-standing presence in the Greek music scene, invites us to a two-hour musical journey through the sounds, colorus, and soul of Cuba. Accompanied by an exceptional team of musicians, she presents beloved traditional Cuban songs, brimming with emotion, dance energy, and authenticity. The Ritmos de Cuba concert is dedicated to Cuban rhythms – from son and bolero to salsa and timeless songs cherished worldwide. It is an evening of celebration, memory, and music, where Cuba comes to life through every note.

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

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Performative installation
b(l)alloon
Blip Inclusive Multisensory Project

GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 18.00

Choreography: Yiota Peklari, Vassia Zorbali

Visual installation: Vassia Zorbali

Sound design: Yiota Peklari

Interpretation in Greek Sign Language: Androniki Xanthopoulou

Performers: Olga Dalekou, Thanos Daskalopoulos, Vassia Zorbali, Christos Koutsovasilis, Natasha Martin, Yiota Peklari

Exploring the reflection of time through the materiality of the body – whether physical or not –, the Blip Inclusive Multisensory Project created a dynamic soundscape through deep listening and group coordination practices. Sonorous and soundless movements, breathing, and voices all form a performative language based on the aesthetic of access, and transform the work’s core by radically expanding the boundaries of stage experience equally for the seeing and the visually impaired, and for the hearing and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. A central element of this choreographic composition is phase music, where recurring phrases are gradually shifted out of synchronization. The work unfolds in a familiar, circular arrangement, inviting audiences into a shared space that is open to diverse physical and perceptual experiences, as well as varying levels of attention.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 17.00).

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Workshop
b(l)alloon
Blip Inclusive Multisensory Project
Designed & conducted by: Yiota Peklari, Natasha Martin, Vassia Zorbali, Olga Dalekou, Christos Koutsovasilis, Thanos Daskalopoulos
GNO Alternative Stage – SNFCC • Starts at: 15.00

The Blip Inclusive Multisensory Project is a workshop designed for individuals with visual and hearing disabilities, with a focus on sensory experiences and active participation. It is designed and coducted by Yiota Peklari, Natasha Martin, Vassia Zorbali, Olga Dalekou, Christos Koutsovasilis, and Thanos Daskalopoulos.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 14.00).

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Workshop

Cuban Percussion and Rhythms

Designed & conducted by: Carlos Menendez

Rehearsal Hall of the GNO Orchestra – SNFCC • Starts at: 12.00

The workshop will explore the main traditional Cuban rhythms and their performance on instruments such as the timbales and congas. It will also examine the intersection of these rhythms with the Africa-originating batá drums, which led to the shaping of the Afro-Cuban musical tradition. Special attention will be given to the historical development of these instruments (how timbales evolved from molasses barrels used in sugar factories and how congas emerged from African drums tuned to Spanish wine barrels), as well as to popular Cuban rhythms, such as danzón, cha-cha-cha, and son.

* Admission will be free upon priority vouchers, which will be distributed at the GNO Box Office one hour prior to the start of the concert (at 11.00).