Pericles Kanaris, composer and artistic director of the Near & Far Kastellorizo International Music Festival, speaks about his deep connection with the sea. A descendant of the legendary Greek revolutionary Konstantinos Kanaris, he hails from two seafaring islands: Psara and Andros.
For Pericles Kanaris, the sea is a powerful force—something he missed deeply during his years in the United States. It is also a major source of inspiration in his music, often leading him to compose songs with lyrics drawn from the lives of ordinary people of the sea.
On the second night of the festival, 28 June, Pericles Kanaris will present his work “NAYTODIA”. The evening will open with internationally acclaimed musician and longtime friend of Greece Ara Dinkjian performing with The Secret Trio. On the third and final night, 29 June, Greek-American soprano Vassia Alati will close the festival with an Opera Gala, featuring renowned arias from opera, operetta, and Italian canzonettas.
The Near & Far Kastellorizo International Music Festival makes its debut on Kastellorizo, running from 27 to 29 June. The island’s natural amphitheater becomes a dreamlike music stage, open to all residents and visitors.
“The goal is to create a platform for artistic expression in an inspiring environment for musical creation, attracting both emerging and established members of the Greek diaspora, as well as philhellenes of global acclaim. At the same time, we hope to turn Kastellorizo into a cultural destination, spreading its name far and wide, while enriching the lives of its people—especially the younger generation—with music,” says festival founder and artistic director Pericles Kanaris.
Produced and presented by Antonis Karagiannakis