Anástasis is the new cd by the great Greek singer Katerina Papadopoulou. “Anástasis” is the Greek word for resurrection and depicts the theme of this cd: how Greek music travels, changes and stays alive. A beautiful cd by a superb singer, accompanied by an excellent ensemble.
Anástasis – The cd
The songs of this project depict an imaginary voyage of the Rose of Jericho through space and eras, in places of the Hellenism. The songs and tunes hail from Asia Minor, Aegean, Thrace, Macedonia, Pontos and South Italy. According to Katerina: ‘It is music that we Greeks carry inside, without even knowing exactly the time of creation. Greek music travels and changes, transforms and persists and stays alive. It is not discovered, not revived. It is alive.’
Dance is intertwined in a primordial coexistence and one can feel the groove and the power that triggers movement.
The Rose of Jericho, the Rose of Virgin Mary or the Resurrection Rose (Anastatica hierochuntica) is a plant of the Middle East, which, after a rainy season, dries up, dropping leaves and curling branches into a tight ball, seemingly dead. When wetted again, the plant wakes up from its dormant state. The last song on this cd is a Hebrew lullaby, as the Anastatica Rose shrivels, falling asleep.
The album was recorded live in the Baumstrasse Theater, Athens (Greece), March 2020
The band
Katerina Papadopoulou: voice, song selection
Stefanos Dorbarakis: kanun, vocals
Kyriakos Tapakis: oud, laud
Giorgos Kontogiannis: Cretan lyra, Aegean Lyra
Chariton Charitonidis: bagpipe, tsambouna, floghera
Theodoros Kouelis: bass
Manousos Klapakis: percussions
Click here for a full biography.
Thracian Table Song
Katerina Papadopoulou
Yiannes and the dragon
Katerina Papadopoulou
Producer Gustavo Pazos shares his views on this album
Without knowing her, I saw Katerina Papadopoulou for the first time at a concert of a Greek oud player where she was invited as a guest; more than 15 years ago now. Although I went to the concert to see the oud player, my attention was completely focused on her when she stepped on stage and started to sing: enchanting!!! She has an extraordinary flexibility, she moves with ease through various singing styles, combined with her unique expressiveness and musicality. Her low, warm voice takes you on a journey.
Especially on Anástasis, she takes us to other times and areas where the Greeks once settled. A musical journey in which influences from other traditions merge with her own Greek sounds, which are as lively as ever. Not unimportant is how well her voice is accompanied by an excellent ensemble.
Dutch reviews
“Samen met haar akoestisch musicerende begeleiders creëert Papadopoulou op dit album een ware lusthof voor de oren” (MixedWorldMusic.com)
“Fantastische muzikanten, een topzangeres en een selectie van prachtige liederen en dansen. Kan een muziekliefhebber zich een beter samenspel van deelfactoren wensen? Ik dacht het niet!” (Dani Heyvaert, Rootstime.be)
“Papadopoulou’s ontroerende zang en de inventieve arrangementen van het ensemble maken nog maar eens duidelijk waarom de Griekse cultuur al millenia overeind is gebleven.” (Heaven, ****)
“Een prachtig album. ” (Moorsmagazine.com)
“Dit is muziek gebracht met hartstocht, kunde en overtuiging.” (New FolkSounds)
“Anástasis is een album waarop het oude Griekenland herleeft, waarop de muzikale Griekse geschiedenis met respect wordt uitgevoerd, op zo’n wijze dat je er helemaal stil van wordt.” (Musicframes.nl)
International reviews
“This album is something to be treasured (…) Not only is she a wonderful singer deeply embedded in this music, but she is accompanied by some truly impressive playing” (Songlines, *****. TOP OF THE WORLD)
“A well-sequenced, beautiful and atmospheric through-listen, it’s a very appealing album altogether, one that I’d expect to receive wide high esteem. (Andrew Cronshaw, Rootsworld.com)
“This singer is one of the few who can take on different vocal styles and bring them to life with her expressive talent. (…) Fans of thoughtful exoticism will be delighted.” (Le Canard Folk)
“Liebeslieder und Tänze, mit traditioneller Instrumenten-Ausrüstung uns einer exzellenten Sängerin, dazu live aufgenommen in einem Theatersaal. Respekt und Emotion, Tradition muss nich nacht Staub klingen (Ohrenschmauch [D])”
(TRANSL: Love songs and dances, with traditional instruments and an excellent singer, recorded live in a theatre hall. Respect and emotion, tradition doesn’t have to sound like dust)
“Neben ausdrucksstark gesungenen Liedern gehört auch eine schmissige Tarantella aus Apulien zum Programm, bevor die Rose zum Abschluss mit einem hebräischen Wiegenlied wieder in den Schlaf gesungen wird. (Jazzthetik [D])
(TRANSL: In addition to expressively sung songs, the programme also includes a snappy tarantella from Apulia, before the rose is sung back to sleep with a Hebrew lullaby.)
“Sie gilt als eine der wenigen Sängerinnen in Griechenland, die die Kunst der alten Meister weiterführen, und sie wird für die Beherrschung verschiedener Gesangsstile und deren Kombination mit ihrem eigenen vokalen und musikalischen Ausdruck geschätzt. (****, Concerto [D])
(TRANSL: She is considered one of the few singers in Greece to carry on the art of the old masters, and she is appreciated for her mastery of different vocal styles and their combination with her own vocal and musical expression.)
“Eine ganz feine CD mit bedeutender Musik” (Folk Galore [D])
(TRANSL: “A very fine CD with significant music” )
“Die Universitätsdozentin aus Athen singt fabelhaft und meist gemächlich, u.a. unterstützt von Ud, Lyra und einem Dudelsack, der es manchmal richtig krachen lässt.” (Folker [D])
(TRANSL: “The university lecturer from Athens sings fabulously and mostly leisurely, supported among other things by ud, lyre and a bagpipe that sometimes really lets it crack.”)
Some praise of Katerina’s audience
“Angelic voice…”
“…passionate and soul-ennobling singing”
“…delicacy and creative refinement”
“…a celestial sacred musical experience”
“The combination of musicianship, purity of sound, honoring of traditional music, depth of familiarity with this music and the creativity of the settings and arrangements were uniquely wonderful”