In front of more than 1,000 music enthusiasts, the new artistic season of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra (TSSO) began impressively on Friday with a program featuring masterpieces by top Russian composers such as Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Prokofiev. The event showcased two charismatic guest artists, pianist Anna Avramidou and conductor Hector Tartanis, whose talents shone brightly.
The star of the evening was 16-year-old Cypriot Anna Avramidou, who delivered a delightful performance of Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23," proving why she has already received numerous accolades and is invited to perform worldwide. The young virtuoso also treated the audience to an encore, adding Rachmaninoff to the list of Russian composers.
In the second part, the emotions of the second suite from Prokofiev's legendary ballet "Romeo and Juliet" unfolded, with the orchestra in the exceptionally talented hands of Hector Tartanis conveying this richness to the audience. Tartanis deservedly received the applause of all the musicians on stage at the end, while the audience called him back four times to applaud him, along with the orchestra.
The event was introduced by TSSO Director Simos Papanas, who thanked the audience for their love and trust, urging them not to miss the orchestra's diverse events throughout the season. He also announced that henceforth, concerts will be held with slight sound reinforcement to address the different stage settings of the Megaron Hall, which hosts a variety of events, necessitating stage adjustments accordingly.