REVIEWS
“...A born conductor”
Bolshoi Theatre, Yuri Simonov
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“Maestro Notis Georgiou is a highly recommended conductor and an excellent guitarist. A most sensitive musician of solid and painstaking training…/ He knows precisely how to achieve, with precise and elegant gestures, that musicians reach a high level of performance in their concerts.”
Teatro Colón Argentina, Pablo Saraví, Concertmaster of Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, Concertmaster of Academia Bach de Buenos Aires, Member of the World Orchestra for Peace
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Ballet Guru Yorgos Loukos, artistic director of the Lyon Opera Ballet, a leading force in contemporary dance, commented on ’’ORESTEIA’’, the new ballet-trilogy by Notis Georgiou:
’’ I liked it very much indeed. Bravo, it is really very well done!’’
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Concert of 28th May, 2008
“…he is a multitalented musician and even more he is one of the very rare conductors who conduct everything by memory, be that symphonies, concertos etc! His repertoire is absolutely enormous. I was indeed impressed by the musical understanding and the technical skills of Maestro Georgiou. The communication between us was perfect and the truth of the matter is that something positively "special" happened during the concert.
It was music-creating and not just routine as one can experience too often during concerts. Moreover, Notis Georgiou conducted Beethoven's Concerto N°3 for piano and orchestra by heart (additionally to the symphonic works), which is quite unusual.
As far as I am concerned, I have already performed this concerto about 90 times worldwide and this was the only time that I ever saw a conductor doing it by memory.
I would like to stress that I am totally independent in my judgement and that I have no personal interest in recommending him, apart from a real admiration.”
Cyprien Katsaris, pianist
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« A small country like Cyprus, has exported a Nicolas Economou, a Martinos Tirimos, a Marios Papadopoulos, a Notis Georgiou. »
Cyprien Katsaris, pianist 25.09.2011
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"A conductor with an overwhelming, effortless dynamism,...an extraordinary talent with extraordinarily high standard musical gifts, sovereign artistic value and psychological mastery. A most mature artist predestined for a beautiful future."
Hungarian State Opera House music review ( Ádám Medveczky)
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Review of Concert of 16th November, 2004
“... Never have I heard Tchaikovsky`s Rococo Variations accompanied with such mastery-not even by the Russians.”
László Mező, Cellist of the Bela Bartok String Quartet, Professor of the Liszt Academy of Music
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Review of Concert of 21st May, 2002
“... Maestro Notis Georgiou simply has everything.”
Musica Nostra
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“What Notis Georgiou achieves with a performance is a bombastic experience of catharsis”
Imre Patkós, General Director of Szolnok Symphony Orchestra
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“Notis Georgiou conducting was an extraordinary joy: absolute control over the orchestra, readiness to unceasingly serve every single musical need and ability to support the soloist’s interpretation with mastery and flexibility.
The second part of the concert, featuring W.A.Mozart’s most challenging „Jupiter” Symphony, calls for particular acknowledgment. Here too, the excellent quality of preparatory sessions was undoubtedly evident. Thanks to his unique artistic and conducting gifts, he inspired the orchestra to employ the maximum of its potentials.”
Berlin Deutsche Opern, Deutschen Streichersolisten, Berliner Philharmoniker Kammerorchester, Bayerische Rundfunk - ERNŐ SEBESTYÉN , concertmaster
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‘Along with the Cypriot people, I personally keep watching and recognizing your internationally successful artistic career, through which Cyprus, its civilization and its people are being promoted in the purest and most beautiful way.’
President of Cyprus Republic
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Review of Concert of 27th June, 2005
“... Hearing the Notis Georgiou-Marku Susan duo in the premiere of my work Rebetikο Suite, I felt, for the first time, justified.”
Vassilis Tenidis, composer
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“Notis Georgiou’s performances reveal features of my works that even myself ignored. He’s one of the 3 great men and great conductors have honored my work: Odysseas Dimitriadis, Miltiadis Caridis and Notis Georgiou”
Vassilis Tenidis, composer
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Review of Concert of 12th June, 2001
“... The best classical symphony performance held in Liszt Academy in the last 50 years.”
Ervin Lukács, President of Budapest Philharmonia.
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"A completely new age of guitar playing: Notis is for the guitar what Glenn Gould has been for the piano.!
/…The Hungarian Symphony Orchestra invites the artists par excellence of the Hungarian and International music life : amongst its world-renowned conductors are Zoltán Kocsis, János Kovács and Notis Georgiou."
Tamás Gál, Conductor, Artistic Director on the occasion of inviting Notis Georgiou to perform 4 guitar concertos at a single concert (Tarregiana, Rebetiko suite, Concierto de Aranjuez, Fantasía para un gentilhombre) as soloist-conductor of the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra.
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Review of concert as guitar and piano soloist-conductor of 13th December, 2011
Featuring Mozart: Piano concertos no. 21, 27, J. Haydn: Piano concerto in D major
Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez and Pachelbel : Canon
“…Mr Kocsis, Mr Vásáry, welcome the new member of the pianist-conductor generation: Maestro Notis Georgiou.”
Dávid Kovács
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“…A man of renaissance”
Julianna Szabó
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“DODECACHORDON ENCHANTS BUDAPEST AUDIENCE” Concert of June 11th, featuring the world premiere of Cypriot Diptychon and the world premiere of Folías all' antica, both by Notis Georgiou, and the Hungarian premiere of Rebetiko Suite by Vassilis Tenidis.
“A most beautiful programme, real music delicacies, gentle music in the hands of masters!” Márta Sebestyén, Hungary's best known vocalist, composer and Unesco Artist for Peace, mainly known as the vocalist of the “English Patient”, awarded with 9 Oscars (including Best Soundtrack) in 1997
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23rd April 2013
„ …his professional career is exemplary. His work in local and international music life is outstandingly worth noticing. Not only the usual bio data, the reviews and the references certify Mr Georgiou’s exceptional qualities, but also the high esteem which embraces him in our country’s music life.”
Dénes Gulyás, tenor, Franz Liszt Prize, Artist of Merit of the Hungarian People's Republic, Outstanding Artist of the Republic of Hungary, Hungarian Heritage Award, Music Director of Pécs State Theatre, Professor at Liszt Music University and University of Pécs.
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Review of Erkel’s Hunyadi László Opera performance, 12th May, 2013
“Authentically Magyar. Full of breathtakingly passionate emotional breakouts, with irresistible drive and electrifyingly dramatic impact, unmistakable, incisive, sharply defined, conscientious, meticulous: simply magnificent’’
Anikó P.Szabó, Hungarian State Opera House music review
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“Cyprus has found its Mitropoulos.”
A. Haralambous on the occasion of the national premiere of his ballet „Eros”, conducted by Notis Georgiou
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16th September 2012
“I first performed with Notis Georgiou 8 years ago. His readiness and talent were already extraordinarily high-standard, his knowledge of Hungarian overwhelming. Notis Georgiou has always proved he was born to be a guitarist, as well as his musical sensitivity and his non compromising ambition in his work both as a conductor and as a sensitive musician. Both as a man and a musician, his excellent properties predestine him to satisfy even the highest demands.”
Vilmos Szabadi, violinist, Docens of Liszt Ferenc Music Academy, Liszt, Hungaroton and Midem prize-winner
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Bonn, Beethoven-Haus
« A really overwhelming performance !»
Anthony Pilavachi, opera director (German Critic Award 2011, Echo Klassik Award 2012/
(European Grammy for Classical Music) for the best opera DVD 2012 worldwide)
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«...His gestures, his music instructions are indubitable, his tempo changes captivating, the communication with both the orchestra and the choir highly intensive…He conducted every single opera performance with unerring, firm hand and high intellectual confidence. A pleasure working with him, both as a man and a professional”
Kalman Strausz, Conductor of the Hungarian State Opera Choir
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“Unadulterated a concert!”
Észak Magyarország 22.11.2016
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“I was the teacher of Panagiotis Georgiou at the conducting Faculty of the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music for 3 years.
During this period I perfectly realized that we have to deal with an extraordinary talent.
His technique was far more advanced than this brief triennial period. However, this is of minor importance compared to his unbelievably unique and personal, though always reasonable and well founded concept and his extraordinarily high-standard musical gifts and artistic value.
While conducting, in a minimum of time he succeeded in communicating with every single member of the orchestra applying his rare psychological mastery and sensitivity. His exams always belonged to the most outstanding cultural events of the Academy.
I consider him one of the most talented and most mature artists. I kindly ask you to provide him all the necessary assistance required, the standard of its fruits I willingly guarantee.”
Ervin Lukács, President of Budapest Philharmonia,Conductor of Hungarian State Orchestra
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„Notis Georgiou’s conducting is able to bring out very special forces in his colleagues. His disciplined and honest personality, his humble dedication to music are exemplary. I am glad we worked together.../… it was very inspiring indeed.
Daniel Patkos, violist
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„As a professional, perfect, as a man, we got to know an exceptional colleague. Opera theatres can benefit a lot from his knowledge, his work ethic and persistence.”
Tamás Daróczi, tenor soloist of Hungarian State Opera House
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„…It is thanks to this ingenious young couple that the Bratislava audience first met Márta Sebestyén.
Their performance was an overwhelming music experience !”
Erzsébet Pogány, editor, Cleveland, Bratislava
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„This concert is as special as you are: beautiful, harmonic and exalting, placid and serene !”
Hedvig Dvorsky, art critic
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„We are deeply grateful for the stunningly beautiful melodies..., for bringing to us ART, as it was handed over by our ancestors.”
Gitta Pálinkás, Bratislava
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“Un genio! A genius!”
Pablo Votti, Buenos Aires
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“Electrifying!
Most personal, agile, engaging and full of brilliance. Georgiou proved to be an exceptional interpreter (soloist) and an unbelievable conductor. He conducted from the guitar having the orchestra behind him. No eye contact was possible. With light head movements he marked the entrances of the instruments and guided the overall performance, demonstrating at the same time a most appreciated, subtle tone, which eliminated the need of amplification of the guitar. A pleasant surprise was that Georgiou conducted all the works by memory, including the world premiers, with absolute authority and control…./ He triumphed with an electrifying interpretation that had everything: energy at culmination points, solvency and drive in the development of the theme variations of the second movement and total intensity in the Scherzo. He demanded the maximum from the musicians, who responded to the limit, all emerging from a fascinating experience, which the audience attended with an almost “sepulchral” silence. The ovation that erupted at the end was the full proof of the result. Such performances that exalt the work of this extraordinary ensemble are very much welcome.”
Donato Decina, Buenos Aires
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“Your body expresses each note and caresses every single instrument. You have the soul of Orpheus”
Inés Isolda Grünwaldt, Buenos Aires
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“It is not You but us who should bow after every performance, to worship Your artistic greatness”
Nicole Boulanger, Brussels
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Márta Sebestyén Hungary's best known vocalist, composer and Unesco Artist for Peace, mainly known as the vocalist of the “English Patient”, awarded with 9 Oscars (including Best Soundtrack) in 1997, about Notis Georgiou / a Hungarian Television interview
available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXVL81G31xw
Reporter: When and how did you get to know Notis?
Márta Sebestyén: I heard a great deal about Notis among the Greeks in Hungary, they kept mentioning him. The Greek Administration and Community publish a newspaper about their cultural news, which I used to receive too. There I continuously kept seeing „conducted by Notis Georgiou, Notis Georgiou”. Once I asked: who is this man, this cypriot conductor, who lives here and is so active and appears in so many forums? In secret I thought I should get to him, maybe I could learn something from him as well, because I am terribly happy when I can personally collect songs from the homeland of a person, who is obviously its best conoisseur. I thought a conductor will definitely be able to recommend folksongs from his native land. For it is hard to find cypriot folksongs. So once, I saw that he is giving a guitar concert with his ensemble-with Susan, performing a very beautiful bouquet, a beautiful programme in MOM. I attended the event, taking along a small notebook, which I filled up with notes and saw that they perform entirely such music delicacies arranged on such an intellectual basis, but filled with splendid content, for which delicacies I myself am very excited and through a knowledge-spreading activity, that goes beyond music and entertainment, teaches and educates, of which I am particularly fond. I found it very interesting. After the concert, when I went to him, it seemed that he was also very happy we finally met and began discussing in a way, that already in the third minute I had the impression that we are just continuing a discussion that began long ago. Thus, for some reason, this meeting became quasi the continuation of a very deep, already existing friendship, after which we met several times. We also discussed about professional issues and it seemed that we can participate in each other’s artistic plans. I find very touching the fact that he got to know so thoroughly the Hungarian culture. The way he speaks is simply fantastic: with such a splendid vocabular treasury, such a pronounciation, that a lot of Hungarian people could feel ashamed with their 50-word sms dialect, so rich is his speech. He has such a feeling and comprehension of the language that, for example, once I asked him to help translating a peculiar Greek carol to Hungarian, to include it in the material of the upcoming recording both in original and in translation. Well, not only did he translate the text, but he somehow did it in a splendid way, in rhythm, taste and tone, as a true literary translator. I myself only know of László Nagy, who was capable of translating folksongs in rhythm, Bulgarian folksongs to Hungarian, in a way that in Hungarian language the translation perfectly cites the original. In a word, he is an astonishing man. And at the same time, he is always so delicate, playful, simple, in far distance from factitiousness of any kind. I very much like that he is so strongly attracted to nature, that he often goes to excursions and practically knows this country so well, as if it were his palm. Therefore, the fact that he has now become a Hungarian citizen is self-comprehensible. I wish there were plenty of Hungarian-Hungarian people that love and know this country and its culture as much.
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“I have known the conductor Notis Georgiou for a decade. During this period, he has acquired an extensive repertoire, covering an impressively wide spectrum of genres and styles (opera, symphony, concerto, chamber works etc.).
His interpretations are distinguished for their originality, immediacy and mastery, be them accompaniments to a soloist, or purely orchestral works. He always creates a unique soundscape, which is nevertheless founded on a deep understanding of the music and a mature approach to it. Gifted with excellent interpersonal communication skills and suggestiveness, Notis realizes his artistic vision through constant guidance to every single member of the orchestra and through successful collaboration with them.
Overall, Notis Georgiou is distinguished not only for his great musical sensitivity and maturity, but also for his professionalism and his artistic integrity.
I strongly recommend him, assured as I am that he can inspire and exploit the orchestra's full potential!.”
László Mező, Cellist of Bartók string quartet, Prof. of Liszt Academy of Music
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“Allowing the soloist and the orchestra to breathe is especially vital in Chopin. This is something you did wonderfully well and I thank you for that!’’
Martino Tirimo, pianist
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„With Notis Georgiou conducting, a singer can achieve everything!”
Attila Fekete, tenor soloist of Hungarian State Opera House, Liszt prize-winner
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„His musicianship, the precision and maturity of his conducting have impressed me deeply.”
Yorgos Sicilianos, composer
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