About
STUDIES
Byron Fidetzis was born in Thessaloniki, where he also carried out his studies in Music, at its State Conservatory. He studied cello with Manolis Kazabakas and advanced music theory with Solon Michaelides. He owes a great deal of his musical learnedness to Aristotelion University’s Musical Department Orchestra, which he joined at the age of 15, under Yiannis Mantakas. The most significant learning school of all however, were the 5 five years he spent with the then Northern Greece Symphony Orchestra (1963 – 68). After being awarded a scholarship by the Greek State Scholarships Foundation, he went on to continue his cello studies at the Vienna University of Music and Performing Arts (with Vladimir Orlof, Andre Navarra and Senta Benes) where he received his diploma (1975). Parallel to this time, he also studied orchestra direction under Hans Swarofsky (at the very same university) where he was also awarded his diploma in orchestra direction (1973- 1977). He was fortunate enough to have great professors in Vienna too, – especially for the theory classes – such as Friedrich Neumann, Erwin Ratz, Alfred Uhl, Friedrich Cerha and Josef Mertin. He also attended various seminars held by conductors such as Miltiades Karydis (Vienna) and Otmar Suitner (Weimar).
PERFORMING ACTIVITY
He has participated in performances both as a cellist and orchestra director alongside various Greek Symphony Orchestras and foreign music groups. He did so across an extensive number of Greek festivals, such as: the Athens, Corfu, Heraklion and Kalamata Festivals, the “Speech and Art” festival of Lefkas and Ioannina, the Rhodes, Filippon and Ermoupolis festivals, Thessaloniki’s “Demetria” Festival as well as the “Manolis Kalomiris” Festival held on the island of Samos. He has also performed around various parts of the world, including Austria, Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Albania, Armenia, Island, Brazil, Portugal, S. Korea, Serbia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Egypt and other places. His main and constant drive during these performances was to showcase Modern Greek musical creativity; examples of these creativity components include: The projection of Kalomiris’s work in Cyprus, Mexico, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Skalkotas’s works in Russia, Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, Austria, China, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Iceland, Albania. Samaras’s operas in Russia and Bulgaria; Axiotis’s pieces in Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Portugal and Japan. Evagelatos’s music in China, the Czech Republic, Germany and Bulgaria. Petrides’s works in Bulgaria, Turkey and China. Theodorakis’s songs in Russia, China and Germany, Lialios’s melodies in Turkey and Bulgaria and Tsalahouris’s pieces in Turkey, Bulgaria as well as Romania.
He worked with the Greek National Opera over a long period of years, during which he was appointed permanent conductor (1985 – 1992). From September 1990 to 1992 he acted as the principal conductor of the Yekaterinenburg State Philharmonic Orchestra of the former Soviet Union while in 1992 he was a guest conductor at “Kapela Russia” in Moscow (former orchestra of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics Ministry of Culture). He was also a guest conductor for the Pazardzhik Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria from 1990- 1999 where he also functioned as the orchestra’s artistic director until 2001. During the period 2000-2005 he was responsible for the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and its artistic direction. From 1987 onwards he was made permanent conductor for the Athens State Orchestra in conjunction with also taking up the post as artistic director (2004 – 2011).
RECORDINGS
He has recorded a vast number of Samaras’ s works including the operas titled Rhea, La Martire, La Biondinetta, Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle and Tigra as well as the lyrical cycle titled Epinikia. I’ve also recorded many of P. Carrer’s works, such as Frossini and Despo as well as D. Mitropoulos’ s Soeur Beatrice. He also undertook the world premiere recording of Skalkottas’s 36 Greek dances. M. Kalomiris’s three symphonies : "Levendia", "Of ignorant and good people", "Palamas", his entire collection of symphonic poems, the Triptychon, Rhapsodies as well as his operas titled Anatoli and Constantine Palaiologos. He has also recorded G. Konstantinides’ s complete orchestra works as well as N. H. Mantzaros’s Ode to Liberty in its complete, original form. He has also recorded works by V. Kalafati, G. Sicilianos, D. Dragataki, A. Evagelatos, D. Lialios, D. Lavragas, M. Varvoglis, P. Petrides, Aim. Riadis, G. Axiotis, T. Antoniou, M. Theodorakis, I. Haliasas, P. Koukos, S. Zanas, S. Michaelides, T, Karyotakis, H. Xanthoulakis, D. Maragkopoulos, F. Tsalahouris, A. Kountourov, A, Xenos and others.
MUSIC RESEARCH
The number of Greek works that he has managed to perform during his long career as both a cellist and orchestra director amount to over 300; most of these were either world premiere performances or premiere performances carried out after several years of silence. Step by step, his efforts focused (and continue to focus) on making 19th Century music come forth as the base of all musical creativity succeeding it. He has therefore made sure that the Ionian School of Music is brought to the fore especially,via executing works by composers such as N. Mantzaros, D. Padovas, S. Xyndas, P. Carrer, D. Rodotheatos, D. Lavragas, S. Samaras as well as works by other composers who remained musically active mostly on the Greek mainland (such as A. Katakouzinos, R. Parizini and D. Lialios). Similarly, he has tried to also promote the Greek National School of music by executing pieces composed by M. Kalomiris, Em. Riadis, P. Petrides, A. Evagelatos, S. Michaelides as well as works by T. Sakellarides, G. Labelet, L. Camilieri and others. He has also executed several works by younger composers such as D. Levidis, A. Nezeritis, G. Ponirides, K. Kydoniatis, G. Platon, G. A. Papaioannou, D. Dragatakis, M. Palladios, A. Xenos, G. Sisilianos, G. Christou, M. Adamis, T. Antoniou, K. Sfetsas, N. Astrinides, H. Vrodos, H. Xanthoudakis, A. Mouzas, F. Tsalachouris, V. Theofanous, K. Patras, G. Vaskalopoulos, M. Lapidakes, M. Travlos, G. Kouroupos, H. Samaras. K. Nikitas and others.
SCORE EDITING-RESTORATION
Apart from executing and performing music he has also restored a variety of Modern Greek pieces (either independently or alongside fine colleagues) in order to make these readily available for others to perform and record. These include: N. Mantzaros: all of his surviving works accompanied by an orchestra (apart from "Aria cantata dall’ ombra di Patroclo nel sogno di Achille"), S. Xyndas, D. Padovanis, D. Rodotheatos, P. Parizinis, A. Katakouzinos, P. Carrer (all of his recorded works -he has also orchestrated his entire opera titled Markos Botsaris), D. Lavragas (Greek caprice, Intro and Fugue, Two lyrical intermezzi, Greek suite no. 1, Pentathlon, the opera titled Frosso – in collaboration with G. Tselikas- Romanesca, Seguidilla and others). S. Samaras (Kitarata, the Olympic Anthem, Rhea, La Martire, La Biondinetta, Mademoiselle de Belle-Isle - for which he also filled in the missing parts of the first act’s full scores -, Kritikopoula, Epinikia in collaboration with G. Tselikas. He has also orchestrated the half-complete opera titled Tigra as well as A Hymn to Bacchus. D. Lialios (all of his orchestra works), Axiotis (all of his orchestra works), G. Labelet, M. Varvogli, Ar. Koudourov, Em. Riadis (2 cello sonatas, 5+2 Songs for Dancing, all of his unreleased works written for voice and piano, for which he collaborated on with D. Yiakas, D. Theocharis and his wife Mirella to get these restored). He has also orchestrated 4 songs written for piano titled “Jasmines and Minarets”, his choral songs as well as two voice quartets and the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. The song titled Galini accompanied by cello and piano, whose first string quartet was also recorded by me in collaboration with N. Christodoulou. Additionally, I restored the works of top Greek composers such as M. Kalomiris (3 Symhonies, a violin concertino, 3 chorus songs, At St. Lucas’s place, Island pictures, Threefold, Olive-tree, A Song for Peace, Pedlar, Choral songs accompanied by an orchestra, Sunrise, Constantine Paleologos, Exotic Waters, Lyrical songs, State and Solitude, The Free Besieged, I love Thee, and other pieces), N. Skalkotas (36 Greek Choruses, Chorus in D minor, Little Symphony in B flat, Sea, and others) P. Petridis (Symphony no. 1, 3, 4, Digenis, Dances of the Kleftes, Requiem, Saint Paul, Legend of Love etc.), D. Mitropoulos (Beatrice, Burial, Electra, Cretan Celebration).
EDUCATIONAL WORK
He has taught Morphology and History of Greek music at the musical studies departments of the University of Athens and the Ionian University, located on the island of Corfu. He has also taught History and Aesthetics of Greek Opera at the postgraduate programme of Theatre Studies at the University of Athens. He has also acted as the President of the Artistic Committee for Greece’s Music Schools for a period of 12 years (1994-2005), and was also a member of the Management Committee of the Ionian University for a series of years. In October 2012, he was elected a member of the Ionian University Senior Management Council.
GREEK MUSICAL CELEBRATIONS
From 2005 onwards he started holding a yearly round of events going by the general name “Greek Musical Celebrations”. These celebrations comprise of concerts, conferences and talks characterised by a two-fold purpose: On one level, to enable both musicians and audiences to become more acquainted with Greek musical heritage of the last two centuries and at the same time showcase new musicians. While on another level, to provide a spot where Greek artists and scientists from all over the world can gather, meet and listen to each other talk about issues of concern. Up to 2011, the GMCs were supported by the Athens State Orchestra. From then till today B. Fidetzis has managed to uphold these celebrations independently thanks to the support of valuable friends all over Greece. Important institutions as well (and most importantly) great artists and scholars have warmly embraced the GMCs’ vision and goals. All of these people have served and continue to serve the GMC’s vision brilliantly and with no personal gain.
AWARDS
International critics have at times praised Byron Fidetzis' musical recording work as well as his efforts for promoting Greek musical creativity. The Academy of Athens honoured him for his activity in the Arts with the Spyros Motsenigos award in 1975. He has also been awarded by the Greek National Opera and the Thessaloniki International Fair as well as other entities. He was unanimously elected an honorary member of the Greek Composers Union for his contribution to Greek music while the Union of Greek Music and Theatre Critics awarded him a certificate of merit for his musical recording activity. Finally, his long-standing and substantial contribution to music comprised the driving force for him becoming appointed an honorary professor of the University of Athens in 2010.
