The Athens Philharmonia Orchestra is ushering in the holiday season with its fourth annual installment of the “Symphonic Evenings” concert series at the Amphitheater “Ioannis Despotopoulos” of the Athens Conservatory. The event promises a festive atmosphere filled with light, optimism, and exceptional music.

A Focus on Shostakovich

This year’s program highlights composers from Central and Northern Europe, with special attention to Dmitri Shostakovich, marking 50 years since the Russian composer’s passing. The centerpiece of the evening is Shostakovich’s beloved Second Piano Concerto in F Major, Op. 102, originally composed for his son Maxim in 1957.

The concerto will be performed by 14-year-old Thodoris Filippopoulos, a standout talent from the Athens Conservatory, under the guidance of his teacher Sophia Ntousia-Myraat.

Additional Highlights

The concert will also feature:

  • Adagio by Greek composer Vasilis Kalafatis, performed in a special orchestral edition for the first time in Greece.
  • Ruy Blas, Op. 95, an orchestral overture by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy.
  • Third Symphony (Singulière) in C Major by Swedish composer Franz Berwald, a rarely performed Scandinavian masterpiece.

About Thodoris Filippopoulos

Born in Athens on December 19, 2011, Filippopoulos began piano at age 7 and quickly distinguished himself in national competitions:

  • Music Arte 2022 – 1st prize
  • De Bach au Jazz 2023 – 2nd prize
  • Tasos Pappas 2023 – 1st prize and overall award
  • Filonas 2024 – 1st prize and Mary Kerani Sofianou Award

He has performed recitals in Nafplio and at the Megaron Concert Hall, playing works by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, and Gershwin. In 2024, he attended a summer camp at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, winning the top prize in its associated competition.

Concert Details

Title: Northern Memories – Symphonic Evenings
Date: Monday, December 15, 2025, 20:30
Location: Amphitheater Ioannis Despotopoulos, Athens Conservatory, Vasilissis Georgiou B’ 17-19, Athens 106 75 (entrance via Rigillis St.)
Tickets: €15 (premium), €10 (general), €8 (students, families, disabled)
Conductor: Byron Fideztis
Soloist: Thodoris Filippopoulos, piano