Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου – 'Πασιφάη': Poetry with a modern eye.

The album Πασιφάη with music by Αλεξάνδρας Παπαστεφάνου comes to set the poetry of Σαχτούρης to music and offer it to us through a modern lens.

Αλεξάνδρα's journey

Speaking of Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου the mind of everyone who has heard her work certainly goes straight to her interpretations of Bach's pieces. She's an internationally renowned composer-pianist with a huge musical career behind her. Born in Trikala, she took her first piano lessons from her mother, Τερψιχόρη Παπαστεφάνου, director of the well-known Χορωδία Τρικάλων. At the age of 7 she gave a recital at "Παρνασσός" and the following year appeared in Volos.

She graduated from the Ωδείο Αθηνών and continued her studies at the Ωδείο Τσαϊκόφσκι of Moscow, the Ακαδημία Λιστ of Budapest, and, on a scholarship from the Αλ. Ωνάσης foundation, at the University of Indiana in Bloomington.

She has won prizes at the International Bach Competition of Toronto and at the International Competition of Geneva (Liebstöckl and Fazioli Awards) in 1986, and has been honoured with the Μοτσενίγου Prize of the Ακαδημία Αθηνών. She was also, in September 1985, one of the 4 diploma-holding finalists of the Clara Haskil piano competition in Switzerland.

Through the eyes of Μίλτος Σαχτούρης

The poetry of Σαχτούρης became a multifaceted vehicle on which Αλεξάνδρα and her team of performers built to offer us a different perspective. The lyrics, combined with the music, unfold the listener's imagination and create parallel universes in which you can lose yourself. Παπαστεφάνου's setting to music is very successful. She has managed to complement the meaning of the lyrics without overshadowing it.

Listening to the album, the listener feels like a participant in a fairy tale. A novel that takes you on a journey. The melodies are very aptly chosen and are complemented by the singers' wonderful performances. As for the album's production, it must be said it's done in such a 'delicate' way that it makes the result seem so simple and so intense at the same time. All the instruments sit exactly at the levels they should, and nothing takes away power from the lyrics.

Editor's Choice: 'Ο Δρόμος' performed by Κώστας Θωμαϊδης

Based on my own listening, 'Ο Δρόμος' is the track that personally stood out to me from the album. Its music brings to mind a powerful rock ballad. Musically, the track could pass for part of some rock band's album. At the same time, Κώστας Θωμαϊδης's melodic performance gives the track another dimension, offering a unique result.

Credits

Music: Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου
Poetry: Μίλτος Σαχτούρης

Performers: Δάφνη Πανουργιά, Διονύσης Κωστής, Κώστας Θωμαΐδης,
Βασιλική Κωνσταντέλλου, Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου

Orchestration: Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου, Θοδωρής Χατζηλάμπρου
Programming: Θοδωρής Χατζηλάμπρου

Performed by:
Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου – piano, keyboards
Θοδωρής Χατζηλάμπρου – piano, keyboards                          
Δημήτρης Τσάκας – saxophone                         
Δημήτρης Παπαλάμπρου – guitars, harmonica                                   
Απόστολος Καλτσάς – bass, fretless bass                                                                       

Τάσος Πέππας – drums 
Θέμης Συμβουλόπουλος – percussion 

Production direction and supervision: Αλεξάνδρα Παπαστεφάνου, Θοδωρής Χατζηλάμπρου 
Sound engineering, mixing: Πέτρος Πετρόπουλος, Polyphoniki Studio
Mastering: Ανέστης Ψαραδάκος, Athens mastering                
CD Production Manager: Πιπίτσα Κληροπούλου, Polyphoniki Records

You can get the album from the official page of Polyphoniki Records.