Acoustic Greek Music Concert with Soprano Julie Ziavras

The Hellenic Culture and Heritage Society of Lowell, MA in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts in Lowell present the acclaimed New York based Greek-American soprano Julie Ziavras in an “unplugged” acoustic concert program of Greek classic and popular songs, on November 6, 2016, at 2:00 PM at the University of Massachusetts Lowell’s Fisher Recital Hall in Durgin Hall at 31 Wilder Street, Lowell, MA 01852. Julie Ziavras will accompany herself on guitar and is joined by pianist Athena Adamopoulos and bouzouki master Kostas Psarros. The program is free and open to the public.

Greek-American Soprano Julie Ziavras

Julie Ziavras’ musical program captures the lyric expression and the rich, deep texture of the Greek spirit and culture. It includes a variety of songs and ballads ranging from the plaintive to the rhythmic, with works by the most prominent Greek songwriters, Hadjidakis, Theodorakis, Tsitsanis, Xarchakos, Greek blues (rembetika) and traditional folk. Many of her song selections are written to the poetry of prominent Greek poets such as the Nobel Prize winning poets Odysseas Elytis and Giorgios Seferis and are of historical and cultural significance. Julie will introduce the songs to enhance the experience for the non-Greek speaking audience, with an explanation of the musical styles and how they express the history and culture of the Greek people. The concert is performed without amplification. An artist reception will follow the concert with refreshments and Greek treats offered by The Hellenic Culture and Heritage Society and the University of Massachusetts in Lowell.

Ziavras has performed in concert, on radio and television in the US, Greece and abroad in a repertory ranging from Greek music and international ballads to opera and folk. Described as “an estimable vocalist” by the NY Times, her numerous appearances in NY City include Carnegie recital hall, Lincoln Center’s Bruno Walter Hall, Symphony Space Theater and the World Music Institute and had been invited to Greece by Manos Hadjidakis to appear on Greek National Radio (ERT) and at the National Theatre in Piraeus. She has toured internationally representing Greece in international festivals and performing selections from her solo CDs. An accomplished singer with a warmly compelling and expressive voice, she is classically trained with bachelor and master degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. “Greek may be foreign to most of our ears, but Julie Ziavras’ lovely, liquid voice expresses feelings of love, longing and wonder that don’t need translation”. (Steve Israel- Times Herald Record).

The Hellenic Culture and Heritage Society is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and preserve the culture and heritage of the Greek American community in the Lowell, Massachusetts region by sponsoring community cultural programs, events and exhibitions and preserving historic documents and artifacts. For more info, those interested can contact Fotine Panagakos, fotinep@verizon.net