From Eden to the Grim Reaper
Clear Note announces the release of a new recording by composer/guitarist Apostolos Paraskevas entitled 'The Garden of Eden'.
(PRWEB) July 31, 2005 -- Award-winning composer Apostolos Paraskevas performs solo works and two concertos on a new hour-long disc entitled "The Garden of Eden". This is a unique anthology of premier releases by the Boston-based composer, comprised of the composer's favorite works from the past 10 years. All six compositions; "The Garden of Eden," "The Deadalus and Ikaros Journey," "Wishes for a Beautiful Life," "Lament for the Balkans," "Etudes I," and "The Life of Death" are performed by Paraskevas and were recorded live in Boston and New York. The two guitar concertos the "Lament for the Balkans" and "The Life of Death" were recorded on June 11, 2002 with Anthony Paul De Ritis conducting.
The composer had this to say about the title track The Garden of Eden:
"Life, Adam and Eve, Serpent, the Voice of the Lord God, East of Eden's Garden.
These five pieces, that are compiled together as a suite for guitar, represent a trouble-free compositional style of mine, based on melodic and most of the time tonal material.
Although I write these notes, almost 11 years after the original date of the work, I find that in looking back I rediscover an innocent part of myself away from my current trends and obsession with the notion of death, which my most recent works deal with.
A description of the Garden of Eden is what this suite is about. Sometimes programmatic (Serpent and The Voice of the Lord God) at times romantic, (East of Eden's Garden) other times joyful, (Adam and Eve) and sometimes musically absolute (Life). Every single movement represents a small part of life in the Garden of Eden as we have read about it, heard about it, or imagined it.
Let us hope we'll meet there."
Clear note publisher Karl Wolff:
"We feel quite honored to present this recording to the world. Serious compositions of a thoughtful and provocative nature epitomize the highest achievement in the musical world and Dr. Paraskevas is an exceptional player as well."
Review from Classical Guitar Magazine: "The Garden of Eden:"
This is a programmatic work based upon the biblical tale of the Garden of Eden with five separate parts to it - Life , Adam and Eve, Serpent, The Voice of the Lord God, East of Eden's Garden.
Although each part is only two pages in length, Paraskevas has crammed in so much interesting material in every page that each one easily stands on its own merit and although the composer states that any of these sections could be performed separately it would be sacrilege to not perform the work as a whole.
This is an exciting new publication full of many twists and turns both rhythmically and melodically and could be one of the outstanding parts of any recital.
Steven Marsh/Classical Guitar Magazine, September 2003:
Described by Lukas Foss as an "extremely gifted guitarist-composer," Apostolos Paraskevas was born in Greece. He holds a doctorate in composition from Boston University, and an Artist Diploma in guitar performance from the Modern Conservatory in Greece. Major influences include Lukas Foss, Theodore Antoniou, Leo Brouwer.
His appearances as a performer/composer and as a concerto soloist with major orchestras around the world include concerts in such venues such as Carnegie Hall/New York, Weill Recital Hall, Tsai Performance Center/Boston, Jordan Hall, the Athens Concert Hall/Athens, etc. Fanfare magazine described him as an amazingly versatile guitarist" and for his new CD Visions of Azure a wonderful and essential guitar CD". Classical Guitar magazine wrote: Apostolos Paraskevas is a genuine innovator, a young and highly gifted musician" Awards: Grammy Nomination, Bridge Records/D. Starobin/1998, Honorary Diploma for the Arts (Cuba); Honorary Diploma, 1991 Guitarist of the Year (Greece); the Red Cross Diploma/1990; First PrizeLukas Foss Composition Competition"/2000, First Prize Greek Union of Conservatories Composition Competition (advanced category, 1996), Winner of the 1997 Call for Scores" National Composers Conference (SCI); First PrizeI. Papaioanou Composition Competition" (Greece) 1997; A.P is a recipient of grants from the American Music Center, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters among others. Paraskevas is also the founder/Artistic Director of the International Guitar Congress-Festival held bi-annually in Corfu Greece and a Professor at Berklee College of Music and Northeastern University.
In January 2001 his work Night Wanderings" was performed at Carnegie Hall with the National Festival Orchestra under the direction of Lukas Foss. Recent appearances of A.P as composer and soloist at Weill Hall/Carnegie Hall included performances of his Third and Fourth guitar concertos, at the Hamptons Music Festival with the Atlantic Chamber Orchestra with Lukas Foss conductor and with the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra in Ukraine.
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