Dionysis Grammenos

Dionysis won the Eurovision Young Musicians International Competition in 2008 (the first woodwind player to win this competition) performing live, during the Wiener Festwochen's Opening Ceremony at the Rathausplatz, in front of an audience of 50 000.

Having made his orchestral debut with the Wiener Symphoniker, Dionysis'  appearances as soloist include performances with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Athens and Thessaloniki State Orchestras of Greece, Athens Symphony Orchestra, Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Symphony and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestras, the Greek-Turkish Youth Orchestra, Nordic Chamber Orchestra (Tour in Sweden in Spring 2010) and Swedish Wind Ensemble. He has worked with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christian Lindberg, Shao En, Ari Rasilainen, Enrique Barrios, Aleksandar Markovich, Nikos Athineos, Myron Michaelides and Loukas Karytinos.

Highlights of the 2008/09 season included a performance of the Mozart clarinet concerto at the Auditorio Nacional de Musica de Madrid in the presence of Queen Sofia of Spain, his debut at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for the Athens Festival, recitals at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and at the Rotterdam Town Hall in the presence of some of the world’s former presidents, as well as recordings for the Austrian, Greek and Norwegian Radio-Televisions. As chamber musician, Dionysis collaborated with Salzburg Mozart Quartet for series of concerts.

Future engagements include a concerto at Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall and a recital at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall (Japan), a concerto at the Reinghau Music Festival (Germany), a recital at the Auditorium du Louvre (Paris) with the world premiere of Celebration VI for solo clarinet by Greek composer Theodore Antoniou (Professor at Boston University, USA), his debut with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra (China) and appearances with Berlin Philharmonia Quartet for series of concerts in Greece and Cyprus, with Borodin Quartet and Salzburg Mozart Quartet for series of concerts in Austria.

Grammenos has been awarded the European Leonardo da Vinci award, prize to be presented to young people who excel in the study of the sciences, technology, literature and the arts, the Golden Medal of the City of Athens by the Mayor of Athens for his outstanding contribution to music, and the Golden Award of the City of Corfu by the President of the Greek Parliament.

Since September 2008 Dionysis has been guest clarinetist with the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens.

He is currently studying at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar (Germany) with Professor Martin Spangenberg and at the University of Athens Department of Physics (Greece).

Dionysis enjoys the sponsorship of Aegean airlines and is represented by Efy Trian at specs ‘n’ arts cultural management. 

For more information check Dionysis' official website.

Repertoire

Solo

L. Berio, Sequenza
L. Cahuzac, Arlequin
E. Denissov, Sonata
F. Donantoni, Clair
G. Donizetti, Studio Primo
B. Kovacs, Hommages
O. Messiaen, Abime des Oiseaux
I. Stravinsky, Three pieces

With piano

M. Arnold, Sonatina for clarinet and piano (Op. 29)
A. Berg, Four pieces
J. Brahms, Clarinet Sonata No. 1 in F minor (Op. 120) and No. 2 in E flat Major (Op. 120)
M. Devienne, Clarinet Sonatas
J. Francaix, Theme and Variations for clarinet and piano
A. Giampieri, Carnival of Venice
V. Horovitz, Sonata for clarinet and piano
A. Jolivet, Meditation
W. Lutoslawski, Dance Preludes for clarinet and piano
B. Martinu, Sonata for clarinet and piano
A. Messager, Solo de Concours
F. Poulenc, Sonata for clarinet and piano
C. Saint-Saens, Clarinet Sonata
R. Schumann, Fantasy Pieces
G. Verdi and L. Bassi, Rigoletto Fantasia di concerto
G. Verdi and E. Lovreglio, La Traviata
C. M. von Weber, Grand Duo Concertant (Op. 48), Introduction, Theme and Variations
L. Weiner and P. Verbunk, Hungarian Dance
C. M. Widor, Introduction, Theme and Rondo (Op. 72)

Chamber music

J. Brahms, Clarinet Quintet in B minor (Op. 115), Trio for clarinet, cello and piano (Op. 114)
W. A. Mozart, Clarinet Quintet in A Major (K. 581)
C. M. von Weber, Clarinet Quintet in B flat Major (Op. 34)

With orchestra

E. Bach, Reflexions for clarinet and orchestra
A. Copland, Concerto for clarinet, harp and strings
C. Debussy, First Rhapsody
J. Francaix, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
F. Krommer, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra (Op. 35), Concertos for two clarinets and orchestra (Op. 36 and 91)
S. Mercadante, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
W. A. Mozart, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra (K. 622)
C. Nielsen, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra
G. Rossini, Introduction, Theme and Variations
L. Spohr, Concertos for clarinet and orchestra No. 1 - 4
H. Tomasi, Concerto for clarinet
C. M. von Weber, Concertos for clarinet and orchestra, No. 1 (Op. 73) and No. 2 (Op. 74), Concertino for clarinet and orchestra (Op. 26)

If you are interested in working with Dionysis Grammenos, please get in touch with the EMCY Office.

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