Nikolaos Halikiopoulos-Mantzaros, the composer, inherited the title of Knight and considerable property from his wealthy aristocratic family in Corfu.
Cultural Impact
Mantzaros's composition of the first two verses of Dionysios Solomos's 'Hymn to Liberty' was declared the official national anthem of Greece in 1865.
Compositional Technique
The 'Sinfonie' on this album are short, autonomous pieces of an introductory nature, similar to what Alessandro Scarlatti described as 'the Italian overture', rather than classical symphonies.
Historical Context
Mantzaros received an honorary life pension from the Ionian Parliament in 1855 for his contributions to music and art, which was the only financial reward he ever received for his musical work.
Recording & Production
The works on this album, originally 18 piano sinfonie, were arranged for wind band by Spyros Mavropoulos for this recording.
Composition History
Mantzaros's one-act opera Don Crepuscolo (1815) is the earliest surviving opera by a Greek composer.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mantzaros declined the position of Artistic Director of the Naples Conservatory to settle in Corfu, where he taught music for free and considered himself an amateur.
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