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Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 1 and 2 October 2024
Robert Kovács studied at the Conservatory of Budapest under Endre Virágh and continued his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Here as organist, choir coach and choir singer he has maintained a long association with the Stephansdom and Augustinerkirche and such prominent Viennese musical institutions as the Arnold Schoenberg Choir and the Vienna Chamber Choir. He taught organ improvisation and liturgical organ playing for the Vienna Archdiocese from 2001 to 2003 and was chief organist at St Florian from 2004 to 2006. In 2004 he was finalist and in 2006 won the 1st Prize at the International Competition for Organ Improvisation in Haarlem, the Netherlands. In October 2008, he received first prize and the audience award at the International Organ Improvisation Competition in Schlägl (Upper Austria). Robert Kovács is the reference organist of the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra, the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. From 2009 to 2015 he was Cathedral Organist in Eisenstadt, Austria. In June 2021, Robert Kovács became titular organist of St. Augustin church (Vienna) after 25 years of work.
Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 2 October 2024
Flora Pelekanou was born in Rhodes. She has studied Singing and Byzantine music and has also received her Certificate in Piano and Composition (Harmony, Counterpoint and Fugue). She is a certificate recipient for the Brass Band Instrumentation, and also holds a certificate in Business Administration and Tourism. Since 1985 she has been the director of the “Apollo” Music-Literature Association of Kremasti and she has obtained a distinction in various choir festivals. In 1992 she founded the Youth Choir of the Cultural Organization of Pastida, Rhodes, and she has also founded the children’s choir and mandolin band “Keroniatis.” In 2004 she established and directed the Mixed Choir of Petalouda Municipality and she has given many concerts in Greece (Rhodes, Thessaloniki, Pharsala, Kos and Kalymnos) and abroad (Malta, Cyprus, Turkey). She has taught in various Experimental primary and secondary schools in Rhodes and every year she attends choir conducting lessons at the Summer Academy of the Ionian University of Corfu and she continues her studies in composition and violoncello.
Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 2 October 2024
The Choir was founded in 2002 under the name Mixed Choir of Petaludes. Then it has been enriched with the mandolin orchestra and has a twenty member Variety Music Orchestra. It is active in Greece and abroad since its establishment until today. They are also active in organizing events in order to collect food, clothing and bedding to the Foundation San Andreas which covers much of the deficiencies in children’s linen.
In these difficult times, the choir and mandolin orchestra continues tirelessly to promote culture joining financially and spiritually in every cultural and humanitarian need of Rhodes.
Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 3 – 5 October 2024
Born in Turin, by now he is known for years at an international level as one of the most remarkable performer and scholar of J.S.Bach’s opera omnia and he is also active in the art of improvisation, from the six voices motet to Passacaglia, from the Prelude and Fugue to the late romantic symphony. He studied with L.F. Tagliavini, L. Rogg, M. Radulescu, H. Vogel and P. Kee. He is further improving himself with Ton Koopman. In 1992 he won the first prize at Concorso Internazionale d’Organo “Città di Milano”. After overcoming the competition in 1994, he is the holder of the Organ and Organ Composition professorship at Conservatorio “G. Verdi” in Turin. He teaches in seminars and masterclasses, in Italian and Foreign Academies, such as Pesaro, Brescia, Turin and Timisoara. In 2006/2007 he taught at the Cathedral of Cremona for an annual course of specialization on Bach’s opera omnia. Cagnani plays in all Europe in the most prestigious festivals, like Haarlem on the famous Muller organ by S. Bavo, Groningen, Wien, Genève, Aosta, Milan, Ljubljana, Dieppe. In January 2010 he is invited to perform in China (Wuhan and Bejing) and recently in Weingarten International Festival on the huge Gabler organ of 1750 and in Freiberg (Silbermann organ 1735). As an harpsichordist he recorded Platti’s, Bach’s, Vivaldi’s, Vento’s, Sammartini’s, Rutini’s, Pachelbel’s, Hotteterre’s sonatas and concerts. As an organ player he recorded pieces by Sweelinck for Elegia Classics on Dell’Orto-Lanzini organ in Pinerolo. He is organ player at the Lutheran Church in Turin. He started the systematic study of the Bach’s cantatas with great attention to the theological aspects, the symbolisms and numerology. He is currently studying and exploring Hindustani classical music.
Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 5 October 2024
Born in Lebanon, Fernando Afara began studying classical singing at the National Conservatory of Beirut while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in music Pedagogy from Notre Dame University in Lebanon. Seeking to enhance his skills, he furthered his studies at the Conservatoire de Lyon and the Schola-Cantorum in Paris. Subsequently, he integrated the opera studio, and later continued his studies with a program focused on vocal teaching at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève. Fernando Afara won the 2nd prize unanimously at the 39th International Music Competition Lyceum in Switzerland in 2015. On the stage, Afara’s talent portrayed Dancaïre and Zuniga in Carmen, Le Podestat in Le Docteur Miracle by Bizet, Papageno from Die Zauberflöte by Mozart. Noteworthy performances include his rendition of Fiorello in the Rossini’s Barbier de Seville at the International Opera Festival in Avenches, Switzerland, and his portrayal of various roles in productions at Lausanne. As a soloist, Fernando Afara has participated in prestigious festivals. In 2021, Fernando Afara founded the vocal ensemble Les Solistes de Beyrouth.
Rhodes (Greece) | Organ & Music Festival Rhodes | Church of St. Francis, 5 October 2024
Les Solistes de Beyrouth is a Beirut-based vocal ensemble recently founded in 2021 by baritone and singing professor Fernando Afara. The ensemble comprises promising and talented, lyrically trained soloists, intermediate and advanced students of Mr. Afara coming from a variety of backgrounds to share their passion for singing. Despite the situation in Lebanon, the economic and financial collapse and the drastic repercussions on the lives of Lebanese people, the Soloists of Beirut aspire to enhance their potentials and capacities; promote the ideals of peace and prosperity, and believe in a Lebanon open to exchange between different cultures.
