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A celebration for the 40th anniversary of the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 24 May 2026

With a particularly rich musical event, the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra honored the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Under the musical direction of Vladimir Symeonidis, the TSSO joined on stage with the musical ensembles of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, such as the Symphony Orchestra of the Aristotle University, the Choral Workshop of the Department of Music and the “Yiannis Mantakas” Choir of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, taught by Eryfili Damianou, in a varied program with works by composers such as Beethoven, Wagner, Shostakovich and Borodin, as well as our own Emilios Riadis and Christos Samaras.
The event was prefaced by the Rector of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Prof. Kyriakos Anastasiadis, who stressed the importance of such events, while also referring to the initiative of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the dawn of its second century of life, with the Aristotle Innovation Forum, which was launched this year. Then, the President of the Department of Music, Prof. George Sakallieros, delivered a speech, referring to the work of the Department and the importance of music in general, while thanking the TSSO and its Director Simos Papanas for the good cooperation between the two institutions.
The program began with Beethoven's overture 'Die Weihe des Hauses' and continued with the world premiere of the work 'The Seagull' by composer and professor of the Department of Music, Christos Samaras, which received the warmest applause from the audience. This was followed by Thodoris Tzovanakis in Shostakovich's 'Piano Concerto No. 2', with the soloist responding to the audience's prolonged applause with a moving encore.
The second part began with the Overture from Wagner's opera 'The Nuremberg Singers' and continued with soprano Matina Gerothanasi who performed Emilios Riadis' work 'Jasemia and Minarets' for voice and orchestra, edited by Giorgos Sakallieros. The concert concluded impressively with the entrance of the two choirs, for the famous Polovtsian Dances from Borodin's opera 'Prince Igor'.

      

      

 

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