DINO MASTROYIANNIS

• Konstantinidis

"You don’t often think of Greece when thinking of classical music, but its influence, both in composition and in instrumental music is hardly negligible. On this recording, noted Greek pianist Dino Mastroyiannis, who has worked heavily with legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis, takes us on a tour of some of the best of modern Greek piano music...  the effect is [of this program] is quite entertaining and instructive. Dino Mastroyiannis plays with obvious authority in this music, persistent idiomatic awareness, and with a rich and broadly orchestral tone when called for. If the concept interests you, no need to delay."

Audiophile Audition [July 2011]

"All [the] pieces are delightful... Mastroyiannis does a fine job with this music."

Turok's Choice, Issue No.229 [February 2011]

"This affectionately well-played collection of solo Greek piano music makes no pretense to be anything else but a tribute to traditional folk-based nationalistic material... [The CD concludes] with the most famous of all such Greek melodies, the dance from the film Zorba the Greek, by Mikis Theodorakis, which might as well be the national anthem. Dino Mastroyiannis plays it all with authority and panache."

Burwasser, Fanfare [January / February 2011]

After nearly twenty years as a concert pianist, I have to admit that, wherever I was, always some kind of nostalgia was leading me back to my country, Greece. So, during the last five years, through many emotions and memories, I have been collecting - very carefully and one by one - the Greek pianistic gems, with which I have created this musical “necklace”. Through these recordings, I hope to show that this music will speak not only to the heart of the Greek people, but also to listeners around the world - far away from Greece. In this collection, I have included a piece by John Psathas, certainly much more contemporary than the rest of the works featured. I have done so because, according to my opinion, if composers like living legend Mikis Theodorakis represent the glorious past and present of Greek music, John Psathas represents its bright future.
Eminent Greek concert pianist DINO MASTROYIANNIS has pursued a career of remarkable diversity. Regarded for his “rich and multi-faceted technique”, “perfect feeling for rhythm” and “rare expressiveness”, he has appeared in such prestigious concert halls as Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, England; Glinka Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic; Ateneul Român in Bucharest; and the Rudolfinum in Prague, to name a few. He has performed in many international festivals and in historic places, including the Bertramka Mozart museum in Prague, the ancient Odeon Theatre of Herodes Atticus as part of the Athens International Festival, and in April 2010 at the Montenegrin National Theater as part of the 9th International A Tempo Festival, of which the newspaper Dan wrote: “impressive how a ‘simple’ piece in the hands of a virtuoso could become truly a work of art which persons of all ages find interesting.” Mr. Mastroyiannis first undertook piano study under Ely Adam, himself directly of the Cortot “school”. He is a graduate of the Music Conservatory of Athens, where he studied under Aliki Vatikioti, receiving a Soloist Diploma with the highest possible distinction and the coveted First Prize. He continued his studies under internationally acclaimed Bulgarian pedagogues Konstantin and Julia Ganevi, former students of Heinrich Neuhaus, and in both solo and chamber music performance in Austria, Germany and at the Sion Music Academy in Switzerland. Mr. Mastroyiannis completed his studies in piano performance as a private student of the greatest virtuoso, Brazilian pianist Roberto Szidon, student of Claudio Arrau and Artur Rubinstein. Dino Mastroyiannis enjoys a special collaboration and friendship with legendary living Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis. Among many of Theodorakis’ works for piano and orchestra he has performed to critical acclaim, Mastroyiannis achieved tremendous success with the world premiere of Theodorakis’ “Helikon” Piano Concerto – lost for 44 years - given first in Finland in 2005 with the Mikkeli City Orchestra under Dominique Fanal, and subsequently with orchestras in several other countries. As a recording artist, Mr. Mastroyiannis has worked many times with radio and television entities across Europe, and has released a CD of Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No.4 with the Catanzaro Symphony Orchestra conducted by Giovanni Froio.
www.DinoMastroyiannis.com MANOS HADJIDAKIS (1925-1994)
IONIAN SUITE (excerpts)
FOR A LITTLE WHITE SEASHELL (excerpts)
SIX FOLKLORE PAINTINGS (excerpts)

MANOLIS KALOMIRIS (1883-1962)
NOCTURNE

YIANNIS KONSTANTINIDIS (1903-1984)
44 MINIATURES ON ORIGINAL GREEK FOLK-TUNES (excerpts)
22 DODECANESIAN SONGS AND DANCES (excerpts)
EIGHT GREEK ISLAND DANCES

JOHN PSATHAS (b.1966)
WAITING FOR THE AEROPLANE

MIKIS THEODORAKIS (b.1925)
PRELUDE NO.1
PETITE SUITE: FINALE
ZORBA’S DANCE

 



MSR Classics