The Dante Symphony of Liszt - Tausig
The Foundation Theocharakis presented the pianist Evangelia Mitsopoulou who proposed the first athenian performance of Liszt's Dante Symphony (1857) in piano transcription by Carl Tausig. The pianist from Thessaloniki who completed her thesis on Dante as a source of creativity for the Liszt, gave recently the world premiere of this unpublished transcription. She moreover aptly implemented by computer the original intention of the composer to present the Dante Symphony together with projection of similar-themed prints of the neoclassical German painter Giovanni Bonaventura Genelli (1798-1868). As Tausig was a pupil of Liszt and excellent soloist the transcription strongly reminded of Dante Sonata. The gifted pianist Evangelia Mitsopoulou performed successfully with exuberant piano figures the dramatic score. She played without mistakes, with precision and control of dynamics, like imitating 'Waltz of Mephistopheles'rhetorical pianismous of Hell' showing evocative lyrical paragraphs in the episode of Francesca da Rimini from Purgatory, and the ecstatic pages the Magnificat. Offering a welcome deceleration in the second half of the evening which was dominated by 'Latin' element and spirited dance rhythms, Evangelia Mitsopoulou presented compositions from the 20th century: the Portuguese Armando Jose Fernandes, the Brazilian Villa-Lobos and the Argentine Alberto Ginastera.
November 8, 2011
Thorough Preparation
''Evangelia Mitsopoulou offered a very interesting evening to the music-lovers on Wednesday 24 September. The hospitable concert hall of the Public Theatre was flooded with fine music written for solo piano. The musical performance started with 10 Preludes of Claude Debussy. The sound was totally concentrated and controlled with those steps that made it possible to perceive the artist’s clear opinion about the aesthetic performance of the French impressionist, which is subjectively acceptable. Liszt’s virtuoso ballade, which followed, was the torrential and equally impressive answer to the sensibility of the first part, as a result of precise and thorough preparation. The absolute concentration to the interpreted program by heart has been obvious in its entirety, while Menelaos Pallandios’Games on the piano, through simple melodic lines, painted a childish dreamy shelter. Finally, the interpretation of Hadjidakis had been the gift in return to the warm applause of the audience that Evangelia Mitsopoulou received rightfully for the total of her presentation."
Antonis I. Konstantinidis, THESSALONIKI, 2003
"...Evangelia Mitsopoulou gave an excellent and successful piano recital at the Grand piano Steinway (1860) at the Liszt Institute performing pieces of Franz Liszt and Greek composers. Her understanding of Liszt's style was evident in her focused and polished playing, musical interpretation, beautiful tone, convincing phrasing, and overall technical control."
Prof. Rossana Dalmonte, Fondazione Istituto Liszt, January 16, 2013
"...Dr. Mitsopoulou has already established herself as a pianist and Ι believe she has a wonderful future as a scholar. She is utterly reliable, courteous, independent of mind but collegial in collaborative circurnstances, and a delight to work with."
Prof. Michael Saffle, Virginia Tech, VA, USA, January 28, 2011
"Redundance of talent: this was the general conclusion of the two Concerts which the State Orchestra of Athens dedicated to eight young artists...The Concert begun with Evangelia Mitsopoulou who performed Weber’s Konzertstück for piano and orchestra with ethereal virtuosity..."
Nikos A. Dontas, ΚΑTΗIΜΕRΙΝΗ, July 15, 2007
"The performance at your piano recital is wonderful and superior!...The Debussy Preludes are superb..."
Prof. Mary Jeanne van Appledorn, Texas Tech University, TX, USA 2003
"Ms. Mitsopoulou is a gifted pianist, highly intelligent and experienced as a performer of a wide repertoire..."
Paul Badura-Skoda, Worldwide renowned pianist, 2007
"...Especially liked her immediate absorption of exotic rhythms and character of a composer like Villa-Lobos. She has a very curious mind and is not afraid of probing into difficult areas. I was fascinated by her work on Tausig’s interpretation of Liszt’s Dante Symphony..."
Prof. Luiz de Moura Castro, Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford , CT, USA, September 7, 2008
"It was the consensus of the judges that your performance reflects the depth of interpretation, musicality, and technical expertise needed to distinguish oneself in the world of professional performance, and we are very pleased to award you this honor. We also extend the thanks of our judges and staff, who agree that the high level of your talent made it an honor to have you participate.
Your playing was exceptional filled with expression, intelligence and individuality. You are just the type of artist we want to present."
Jury of the 2014 Brandshaw & Buono International Piano Competition May 1, 2014
Press release: UNITED REPORTERS and thesspress
Read her interviews at PARALLAXI MAG and AGGELIOFOROS newspaper