Concert: Vasilarap – “Dialogues with Emrah”

Guitarists Yannis Arapis and Themis Vassiliou present the work “Dialogues with Emrah” (op.55, SK 43, 1948) by the overlooked Greek composer of Ethiopian descent, Vasilarap.

Vasilarap, “Dialogues with Emrah” (op.55, SK 43), 1948

“A defining feature of the great Greek composer Vasilarap was his travels and the friends he met along the way. Among his works, one that stands out is Dialogues with Emrah, which reflects the composer’s impressions of Constantinople through his friend Emrah Bahçeli. In this early-period work, there are five pieces written in a contrapuntal and dialogic form for two guitars: at times marked by tensions and disagreements, at others by frozen resonances and scattered harmonics, together creating a pointillistic sound canvas. It is undoubtedly an important new addition to the composer’s repertoire.”

(Sergej Kapiliev, Moscow, 15/9/22)

Lighting design: Alexandros Seitaridis
Sound: Kyriakos Markoullis