My eyes, eyes

Eyes have always (also) had a symbolical meaning for humans. They are associated with light, sun, and the spirit, and they are also considered as the “mirror of the soul”. They are praised by songs and poetry, they are a gate of love, adoration, pain, joy, and beauty. Moreover and among other things, the eye is used as a symbol in various religions. In the Bible it symbolises omniscience and the vigilant protection of the ever-present God; in Egypt it stands for fertility, faith and luck but also serves as a sign of recognition of the individual in the afterlife. According to Greek folk wisdom, the evil eye talisman keeps us safe from hostile glances, and that’s why many people wear it for good luck and protection. — E.

International performer Erini, accompanied by distinguished soloists, Sofia Efkleidou on cello and Yorgos Kontoyannis on lyre, presents a programme of songs from Asia Minor, Crete, and other regions of the Eastern Mediterranean, which focuses on the symbolism of eyes throughout the history of humanity. This is the first time the three artists present this programme and join their forces together, loaded with an improvisatory spirit and creating a mystagogical atmosphere.

A few words about Erini

Erini is a Boston-based vocalist born and raised in Heraklion, Crete, whose family comes from Smyrna, Asia Minor. With influences from Greek folk music, contemporary and jazz music, and seeking intercultural dialogue through creation, she has already established important collaborations with artists such as the Grammy Award winners Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington and Luciana Souza. She toured with the Cirque du Soleil for three years. She has appeared at the famous Carnegie Hall in New York, and teaches at the Berklee College of Music. She has presented the Greek folk music at distinguished universities in the States, such as Harvard and Princeton. For her work on the vocal interpretation of the music of Asia Minor she recently received two prestigious awards by the Mass Cultural Council and the Boston Foundation.

Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum

The Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum is situated on the northern slope of the Acropolis, at 12 Theorias St It was founded in 1976 and it hosts the collection of ancient, Byzantine and post-Byzantine art of the same name. Canellopoulos collection was donated to the Greek state in 1972, in order to become available to the public. The museum’s central building is a typical example of neoclassical architecture. It was constructed in 1894 as the residence of the Michaleas, an old family of Athens, and during the 1960s it was expropriated and restored to host the new museum. Over the 2000s, on the initiative of Alexandra Canellopoulos and the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Foundation, a new wing was added to the museum. At the building’s foundation still stands a surviving part of Rizokastro – the medieval fortification of Athens.

First Sacred Music Festival info leaflet available to read and download here