The concert ‘Sounds of the City’ is presented in the Atrium of the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki, as part of the Thessaloniki Soloist Festival 2026.
The program is dedicated to classical music and folk songs of Constantinople, highlighting instrumental compositions of Romani musicians, Phanariot songs of the 19th century, and pieces known from performances of Constantinople performers, on 78-rpm records of the Interwar period.
Entry for the public is free.
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“Sounds of the City” at the Atrium of the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki
Thursday, July 16, 2026, Lyric music and folk songs of Istanbul.
Thessaloniki Soloist Festival 2026 – Free entry
Museum of Byzantine Culture
2 Stratou Ave., Thessaloniki
Word music and folk songs of Istanbul
In this particular concert, indicative works from the area of Loia, secular music of the urban area of the City, will be performed.
Among them, instrumental compositions by Romani musicians who performed either in the palaces or in the context of musical performances with a popular sign.
At the same time, some Phanariot songs will be presented that refer to the musical environment of the urban elite of Phanario in the 19th century. Finally, songs by unknown composers known from performances by Constantinople performers on 78-rpm records during the interwar period will be performed.
All of the above will be framed with appropriate improvisational (organ and vocal) practices, such as Taksim, Gazelles, and Amanedes.
Coefficients:
Nikos Andrikos: Politiko lute, voice
Nikos Paraoulakis: new
Demosthenes Karachristodoulou: Political lyre
Anna Kouklakis: canon
Nikos Andrikos:
Nikos Andrikos is an Associate Professor at the Department of Music Studies at the University of Ioannina. He holds a doctorate in Musicology (Ionian University) and a Postdoctoral degree (University of the Aegean).
Between 2004 and 2007, he was in Constantinople for studies and research, while he sang officially at the Ecumenical Patriarchate, next to Leonidas Asteris.
He has published three records of his personal compositions, three records of Church music, while he has given numerous concerts in Greece and abroad playing lapta, tanbour, and singing, in the context of collaborations with internationally renowned artists.
He has published two books, numerous articles in international scientific journals, and conference proceedings. His scientific interests are related to issues related to the idiomatic character of Church music, the compositional production during the late Ottoman period, as well as the tropical theoretical systems of the musical culture of the East.
Anna Kouklakis
Anna Kouklaki was born in Athens in 2001, originally from Chania and Heraklion, Crete. She is a final student of the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina with a specialization in canon and teacher Apostolos Tsardakas.
Her interest in music started early as she grew up in a musical family environment. Her relationship with the instrument began at the age of 8 with Efi Zaitidou, and then she studied at Pallini Music School, where she studied alongside Tassos Poulios, with whom she graduated.
During her career, she has attended numerous seminars and courses with important teachers, while she systematically attended the seminars of the ‘Labyrinth’ Music Workshop with Göksel Baktagir.
Her first concert appearance took place in 2012 at Herodeion, at a concert tribute to the memory of Domna Samiou.
Since then, he has participated in numerous concerts and activities in Greece and abroad.
From 2025, he teaches canon at the ‘Scholeion Psaltikis’ music school in Marousi.
Demosthenes Karachristodoulou
He was born in 1997 in Athens, and at the age of 13 he began his involvement with music. Through instrument making, he comes into contact with the lyre and the lute of Constantinople.
Graduated from the Simon Karras School in the Department of Organ Making. He has apprenticed alongside Giorgos Kontogiannis, Stratis Psaradellis, Markos Skoulios, and Nikos Andrikos.
He has attended seminars with Sokratis Sinopoulos and Derya Türkan.
He collaborates with artists such as Nikos Andrikos, Christos Tsiamoulis, Thomas Meleteas, Vassilis Filippou, Fenia Papadodima, Christos Kanellos Malamas, Israel Varela, etc., participating in concerts and recordings.
He is also a member of the original music group Lyra Quartet under the direction of Sokratis Sinopoulos.
Graduated from the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina, specializing in the civil lyre.
Nikos Paraoulakis
He was born in Ierapetra, Crete, in 1977.
In 1995, he settled in Athens for music studies. He has a degree in Advanced Theory with the teachers Panagiotis Adam, Iosif Papadato and Vassilis Foster, Classical Guitar with Thanasis Koumenteris, and Jazz Guitar with Giotis Samaras.
Since 2000, he has been focusing on the Greek and Eastern tradition, studying nei alongside Haris Lambrakis and Ömer Erdoğdular.
He has collaborated in concerts and in the discography with important Greek and foreign composers and musicians. In 2005-2006 he taught ney at the Folk and Traditional Music Department of TEI Epirus.
His personal discography includes the albums:
‘From light and darkness’ (2014): In his own music, orchestration and production, with lyrics by D. Papacharalambous and performers by Alc. Ioannidis, M. Lidaki, Ap. Rizo, M. Dakanali, M. Koti, N. Venetaki, M. Fasoulaki, P. Papaioannou, and Z. Vergaki.
‘En Route’ (2022): An orchestral record of his own composition and production, which he presents with the Nikos Paraoulakis Quintet.
He is an active member of Polis Ensemble since 2015, with whom he has released the records:
‘Polis Ensemble’ (2019),
‘Sound Hellenic’ (2021),
‘Carol’ (2023) and
‘Polis Ensemble II’ (2026).