Athens Symphony Orchestra & Spiral Trio

The Athens Symphony Orchestra collaborates with the Spiral Trio on Spiros Manesis' original compositions and covers, influenced by different civilizations, under Andreas Tselikas' musical arrangement and direction. A unique –by Greek standards– musical programme, where Spiral Trio communicates with the Symphony Orchestra on well-known melodies by Paul McCartney, Antonio Carlos Jobim, John Kern, Chico Buarque and music by Spiros Manesis, Joao Hasselberg and Kaspars Kurdeko.

Andreas Tselikas rose to international prominence as a conductor after receiving an award in the International Competition for Young Conductors “Jean Sibelius” (2005). Since 1998, he has conducted operas, ballets and concerts in some of the most important music halls in the world and has been regularly conducting the Athens Symphony Orchestra, the Athens State Orchestra, the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and the ERT Symphony Orchestra, systematically giving prominence to young composers and soloists. He is the permanent Conductor of the Athens Symphony Orchestra, the Musical Director of the Hellenic Music Centre Orchestra and of “The Medium Project” contemporary opera group.

The Athens Sympony Orchestra was formed in 1996 and, since then, it has been on the frontline of musical proceedings in Greece. With a rich repertoire from the baroque to the contemporary artistic creation, it particularly focuses on Greek art music. It has presented great operas in collaboration with renowned soloists of the lyric theater. Its three permanent conductors are Eleftherios Kalkanis, Michalis Oikonomou and Andreas Tselikas.

Spiros Manesis studied musicology, classical and jazz piano. He has toured in many countries and collaborated with musicians such as D. Bowman, G. Hekselman, JD Walter, M. Abrams, B. Janke, M. Pollak, H. Cornell, J. Hasselberg, K. Kurdeko, S. Yannatou, P. Klampanis, Chr. Rafailidis, D. Galani, And. Polyzogopoulos, T. Paterelis and great orchestras such as the ERT Orchestra and the Orquestra do Norte. Arionas Gyftakis studied violin, but his interest in jazz soon led him to the double bass. At the age of 17, he won the Berklee College of Music Presidential Scholarship. He has collaborated with G. Kontrafouris, D. Whitfield, And. Polyzogopoulos, G. Tsiropoulos, D. Rotem and others. Anastasis Gouliaris studied next to Nikos Sidirokastritis and Sylvios Syrros, the man who led him to jazz. He has collaborated with many important Greek musicians and toured in Greece and abroad.