Bridges - Greek, Arabic and Turkish traditions

Christina Koza, singing in Greek, Arabic and Turkish, under the direction of master musician Kyriakos Kalaitzidis, oud and music composer, will be exploring universal traditional songs of the Mediterranean Sea. Famous violinist Zied Zouari from Tunisia will exceptionally be participating to this concert. The Mediterranean has always been a sea of encounters and exchanges. Each shore calls out to the other, constantly, inevitably, from ancient times to the present day, between East and West. It is this unique feature that will be highlighted in this concert, conceived by Kyriakos Kalaitzidis. 

Kyriakos Kalaitzidis

Kyriakos Kalaitzidis, since 1988, has been developing a multifaceted work that focuses on the research, teaching and artistic practice of Oriental music. Founder and Artistic Director of En Chordais. The main objectives of En Chordais, as set out in the organization’s statutes, are the research, study, teaching and presentation of musical heritage, the search for and reconstruction of the elements of a shared musical culture of the Mediterranean through collaborations with musicians, research centers, educational bodies from around the Mediterranean and Europe and, finally, the support and promotion of new musical creation that engages with these traditions. He was the artistic director of the European project MediMuses (2002-2005) with research, educational and artistic activities in eleven Mediterranean countries (www.medimuses.gr), the festival “Music of the World” Municipality of Thessaloniki (2012) and artistic advisor of Rialto Ethnic Limassol Festival (2011 – 2014).

Christina Koza

Christina Koza, young singer a specialist in traditional Greek island repertoire, meets the Orient through Tunisian violin virtuoso Zied Zouari, known for his work with Goran Bregovic, among others. Born in 1983 into a family of musicians, Zied Zouari began studying the violin at the age of seven at the Regional Conservatory of Music in Sfax (Tunisia) with Mourad Siala and Lassâad Zouari, before perfecting his skills with Bulgarian violinist Vassil Dimitrov at the Higher Institute of Music in Sfax. Launched in 1999 with his performance with the famous Lebanese singer Wadih el-Safi at the Carthage International Festival, his career has led him to collaborate with major artists. 

He was artistic director of the European MediMuses project (2002-2005), which carried out research, teaching and artistic creation activities in eleven Mediterranean countries (www.medimuses.gr), of the Thessaloniki municipality's "Musiques du Monde" festival (2012), and artistic advisor to the Rialto Ethnic Festival in Limassol (2011-2014).

Christina Koza, a young singer specializing in the traditional repertoire of the Greek islands, meets the Orient through the virtuoso Tunisian violinist Zied Zouari, best known for his work with Goran Bregovic.

Born in 1983 into a family of musicians, Zied Zouari began learning the violin at the age of seven at the Conservatoire régional de musique de Sfax (Tunisia), with Mourad Siala and Lassâad Zouari, before perfecting his skills with Bulgarian violinist Vassil Dimitrov at the Institut supérieur de musique de Sfax.

His career began in 1999 with a performance alongside the famous Lebanese singer Wadih el-Safi at the Carthage International Festival, and has since led him to collaborate with many renowned artists.