“One of the most talked about contemporary classical compositions of the decade.”
Constantinople
THE MULTIMEDIA THEATRICAL EVENT BY CHRISTOS HATZIS
© James Whittall
Conceived and composed by Christos Hatzis
Produced and performed by the Gryphon Trio
with vocalists Maryem Hassan Tollar and Patricia O’Callaghan
An allegory for our own troubled times, CONSTANTINOPLE weaves together threads from East and West, sacred and secular, past and present, reality and myth, high art and popular culture. Built on a foundation that celebrates the power of chamber music, CONSTANTINOPLE is a union of media and artistry that captivates audiences accustomed to theatre, opera, and ballet.
© James Whittall
Before embarking on their journey to Constantinople, Christos Hatzis and Gryphon Trio members Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys, and Jamie Parker envisioned a work that would take chamber music in new directions and bring it to audiences far beyond its traditional appeal. The Gryphons were intrigued by Hatzis’ natural ability to blend the sounds and textures of diverse world cultures into his own music. Hatzis and the Gryphons also shared an interest in exploring connections between music, movement, and visual imagery with collaborators from other artistic disciplines.
Hatzis’ overall concept for Constantinople started to take shape in 1998. Gryphon Trio premiered the musical “spine” of the work with singers Jean Stilwell and Maryem Hassan Tollar, in 2000, as part of the Music TORONTO series. Overwhelmingly positive public and critical response to Hatzis’ new work fuelled four years of creative output that resulted in Constantinople, the multimedia theatrical presentation.
The Music
“The Gryphon Trio and vocalists Patricia O’Callaghan and Maryem Hassan Tollar deliver gripping, urgent, and beautifully nuanced performances.”
Stephen Eddins, AllMusic
Constantinople received its premiere in 2004 at the Banff Festival of the Arts. It is produced by Gryphon Trio in partnership with The Banff Centre, Music Toronto, and Tapestry New Opera Works with additional production assistance from Ex Machina. The team of artists responsible for creating the theatrical components of the work included John Murrell (scripting advisor), Jacques Collin, Lionel Arnould (projected visuals designers), Bernard White (lighting and stage design), Marie-Josée Chartier (direction and choreography), Heather MacCrimmon (costume design), Caroline Hollway (production manager), and Anthony Crea (sound).
Constantinople has been performed in the United States, London’s Royal Opera House, and throughout Canada.
Dates for the 2021-22 season are now being booked.
© James Whittall
Constantinople
THE MULTIMEDIA THEATRICAL EVENT BY CHRISTOS HATZIS
Conceived and composed by Christos Hatzis
Produced and performed by the Gryphon Trio
with vocalists Maryem Hassan Tollar and Patricia O’Callaghan
Before embarking on their journey to Constantinople, Christos Hatzis and Gryphon Trio members Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys, and Jamie Parker envisioned a work that would take chamber music in new directions and bring it to audiences far beyond its traditional appeal. The Gryphons were intrigued by Hatzis’ natural ability to blend the sounds and textures of diverse world cultures into his own music. Hatzis and the Gryphons also shared an interest in exploring connections between music, movement, and visual imagery with collaborators from other artistic disciplines.
Hatzis’ overall concept for Constantinople started to take shape in 1998. Gryphon Trio premiered the musical “spine” of the work with singers Jean Stilwell and Maryem Hassan Tollar, in 2000, as part of the Music TORONTO series. Overwhelmingly positive public and critical response to Hatzis’ new work fuelled four years of creative output that resulted in Constantinople, the multimedia theatrical presentation.
Constantinople received its premiere in 2004 at the Banff Festival of the Arts. It is produced by Gryphon Trio in partnership with The Banff Centre, Music Toronto, and Tapestry New Opera Works with additional production assistance from Ex Machina. The team of artists responsible for creating the theatrical components of the work included John Murrell (scripting advisor), Jacques Collin, Lionel Arnould (projected visuals designers), Bernard White (lighting and stage design), Marie-Josée Chartier (direction and choreography), Heather MacCrimmon (costume design), Caroline Hollway (production manager), and Anthony Crea (sound).
Constantinople has been performed in the United States, London’s Royal Opera House, and throughout Canada.
Dates for the 2021-22 season are now being booked.