The Nefes Vocal Ensemble presents its vocal performance “A CAPPELLA – The Suite of Fantastic Beings” in a unique venue: an open-air summer cinema. Through song, spoken word and movement, the performers narrate—collectively and individually—stories inspired by folktales from the Mediterranean, the Balkans and Latin America, featuring imaginary mythical creatures as well as familiar beings from the natural world.
The repertoire is arranged entirely for voices and consists of traditional songs from around the world alongside original compositions. The texts are inspired by authors from Greek and world literature, including Eduardo Galeano, Argyri Chionis, Jorge Luis Borges and Nikos Karouzos, among others, as well as by folk poetry from various cultures. Through a sequence of stories, a musical suite unfolds, where one sonic image follows another, creating a song-based work performed exclusively by voices—a cappella.
Polyphony—both of sound and movement—becomes the vehicle of storytelling, inviting the audience on an imaginative and captivating journey.
PERFORMANCE CREDITS
Artistic Direction & Stage Direction: Elena Moudiri Hasiotou
Vocal Arrangements: Elena Moudiri Hasiotou
Music Composition: Christiana Kalatzoglou, Aris Magrippis, Elena Moudiri Hasiotou, Sofia Tarseni
Dramaturgy: Elena Moudiri Hasiotou
Movement Direction: Tasos Papadopoulos
Graphic Design: Aris Magrippis
Trailer: Martha Gogakou
Communications: Xanthippi Koutoufi, Lia Papadragka
Production: olipoli AMKE, Nefes Ensemble
Performers: Souzana Andrikou, Nefeli Gkikoglou, Maria Zevli, Despoina Theodoridou, Alkyoni Thilykou, Christiana Kalatzoglou, Katerina Kanelopoulou, Thomas Karagiannis, Yria Karamousanli, Maria Kontovounisiou, Xanthippi Koutoufi, Androniki Koutsianou, Ariana Manafi, Tzina Mixafenti, Vaso Michailidou, Petros Papazisis, Maria Papageorgiou, Lia Papadragka, Antonia Paraschiakou, Sofia Tarseni, Vasileia Tsentikopoulou, Lina Tsernou, Eirini Chryssovalantou Meimaridou, Sari Rumi.
INFORMATION
Venue: Cine Alex Open-Air Cinema, 106 Olympou Street, Thessaloniki
Performance: Monday, 17 June 2024, at 20:00
Doors Open: 19:15
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: €10 presale / €12 at the door
Online presale: https://www.more.com
Physical presale locations:
• Cine Alex (106 Olympou St.)
• NANTIN Flowers & Plants (106 Olympou St.)
• Sarothron Bar (17 Katouni St.)
Tickets purchased at physical presale locations are available in cash only.
Information: https://www.facebook.com/nefes.project
Tel. +30 694 639 9488
About Nefes
Nefes [breath] is a vocal ensemble founded in October 2019. The group explores the musical traditions of the Mediterranean and the Balkans, seeking new ways of interpreting and performing this repertoire. By combining polyphonic singing techniques with the performative elements of music, theatre and dance, Nefes investigates the expressive and interpretative potential of the ensemble voice.
The group focuses on the performance of contemporary arrangements of traditional melodies, as well as original compositions inspired by these musical traditions, with the aim of creating complete stage performances that bring together sound, movement and storytelling.
To date, Nefes has presented its work at The Neighborhood Room in Thessaloniki, the Cosmopolis Festival in Kavala, the Tentart Festival in Drama, the 3rd Handmade & Recycled Theater Festival in Athens, the Folklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia–Thrace, and as part of Thessaloniki’s Open Theatre Stage of the City with the performance Unruly World.
In September 2024, the ensemble released its first album.