TALES FROM THE BOX – Ciel / Artway – Technotropon Cultural Productions, 2023 / CD, Digital / traditional & instrumental music / Greece
Let’s get to know the main actors of this project.
Thanos Stavridis is one of the most recognized accordion player, with collaborations both in performances and discography, with some of the greatest and most famous singers but also composers and musicians, both in Greece and in the Balkans. Indicatively mentioned are – Evanthia Reboutsika, Alkistis Protopsalti, Socratis Malamas, Thanasis Papakonstantinou, Elli Paspala, Panagiotis Kalanzopoulos, Matoula Zamani, Makis Seviloglou, Estudiantina, Gerasimos Andreatos, Theodosii Spassov (BG), Petar Ralchev (BG), Vlatko Stefanovski (NMK), Saso Popovski (NMK), Vasko Atanasovski (SLO), Angel Demirev (BG), Nebojsa Sejdic (SRB), Boban Mirkovski (NMK), Costas Theodorou, Floros Floridis and many others.
He is also one of the pioneers of the Greek Balkan scene, having been a founding member of historical groups, such as – the Northern Partners, the Cabaret Balkan, the dRom and Tales from the Box. He has participated in over 100 recordings of albums, both as a soloist and as an orchestrator. His two personal albums – “A Suitcase full of Dreams” (2016) and “Spicy Margarita” (2021) – have received distinctions and very good reviews, both at home and abroad, having airplay in radio stations in Australia, Argentina, but also throughout Europe. “A Suitcase full of Dreams” has been voted one of the 10 best world music records in Barcelona’s rutes del so station, and was nominated in the “world music” category by the German Critics Association. Respectively, “Spicy Margarita” has been voted in the 20 best albums by the World Music Charts Europe for March 2021, having come out at No. 129 for the whole year among about 900 records from all over the world, and also ranked at 3rd place in the category “Best World Music Album” on UK’s 9th Annual OWMR Awards.
His research – musicological activity is on the folk music of the Balkans. Since 2000, he has made presentations at seminars and workshops both in Greece and abroad, while he has written relevant articles participating in various publications, most recently his participation in the volume “Issues of Instruction of Musical Instruments: Bridging Theory and Practice” (ed. DISIGMA). For the last 14 years he has been teaching at the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina (former Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the TEI of Arta). New York-based Times Square Press, “Accordion Stars Illustrated“, lists him among the world’s 100 best-known accordionists for 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Stella Tempreli was born in Thessaloniki (Greece) in 1992. She is a graduate of the University of Macedonia, Department of Music Science and Art, specializing in cello in the class of Dimitris Patras and with an excellent grade. In 2022 she completed the postgraduate program at the University of Macedonia “Musical Arts” with a focus on cello performance. She studied cello at the conservatory “Music College of Thessaloniki” in the class of Dimitris Alexandros from where she received her cello diploma with a grade of excellent, as well as higher theory. She participated in the European Erasmus program at the Art EZ Conservatorium in Zwolle, the Netherlands, in the class of Jeroen Reuling and Karlien Bartels. She has attended numerous seminars and participated in concerts, both in Greece and abroad. In 2011, 2012, 2014 she received the 3rd, 1st and 2nd prize respectively in the Chamber Music competition of the University of Macedonia. Together with Thanos Stavridis, she has created the duo “Tales from the Box” with which she has performed many concerts both, inside and outside Greece.
She has collaborated, both in recording and in performances, with a number of Greek composers and interpreters such as – Nikos Kypourgos, George Kazantzis, Dimitris Maramis, Chronis Aidonidis, Maria Farandouris, Sofia Avramidou, Thodoris Voutsikakis and others. Since 2015, she has been teaching cello in conservatories and music schools in the country, while since 2021, she has been working as a permanent teacher at the Music School of Volos.
Debut album of Tales from the Box, titled “Ciel” is released by Artway – Technotropon Cultural Productions. Its musica is taking you on a journey to musical landscapes under the Mediterranean sky. Eight original compositions and 3 arrangements where the dominant instruments were the accordion of Thanos Stavridis and the cello of Stella Tempreli respectively. This is actually the 3rd personal album of Thanos, who is released this time with the duo Tales from the Box and aspires to have the successful course and distinctions abroad as well as at home of the previous two – “A suitcase full of Dreams” and “Spicy Margarita“.
With the friendly participation of – Giotis Kiourtsoglou (el. bass), Yiannis Papatriandafillou (double bass), Dimitris Angelakis (vibraphone), Nikos Vargiamidis (drums), Angelos Polychronou (percussion), Dimitris Klonis (drums), Christos Tassios (percussion) and Dimitris Zacharakis (vibraphone), the duet of Thanos and Stella presents music with a new and special sound. That of the combination of accordion and cello. Two flexible instruments with a long history, both in the classical and folk music traditions of the Mediterranean and beyond. Two “music boxes” that promise to take us on a journey with their stories.
Discography (by Thanos Stavridis) – Thanos Stavridis – A suitcase full of Dreams (2016) ; Thanos Stavridis – Spicy Margarita (Artway – Technotropon Cultural Productions, 2020) ; Tales from the Box – Ciel (Artway – Technotropon Cultural Productions, 2023)
Tales from the Box is supported by – Thanos Stavridis (accordion, Fender Rhodes) ; Stella Tempreli (violoncello) ; Giannis Papatriantafillou (doublebass) ; Nikos Vargiamidis (drums)
The Mediterranean region has proven itself countless times to be an inexhaustible source of rich musical heritage. Many top musicians reached for this treasure in order to present their musical ranges on its basis. Musical materials that have survived centuries and centuries, the more successful ones gave them their own stamp, trying to bring them closer to listeners who grew up with modern concepts. To this end, new arrangements are made, combinations of instruments are used to give these materials a new meaning and a new sound. Thanos Stavridis (accordion, Fender Rhodes) and Stella Tempreli (violoncello), together with several collaborators, bring us their visions of that musical legacy.
Although the concept of the Mediterranean is basically geographical, in the middle of this century that term takes on a more complex meaning. Researching Mediterranean cultures through the music enables music, as a human and social phenomenon, to be placed in a unique historical perspective, thereby creating essential assumptions for understanding the present. In the musical tradition of certain Mediterranean countries, traces of contact and historical relations have expanded the local frameworks and valuations of musical heritage into corresponding Mediterranean dimensions. This is how the music of the Mediterranean has become welcomed and generally accepted in this area among the fans, who have proven their musical qualities over a long period of time.
With playing techniques and harmonious instrumental combinations, Thanos and Stella (along with their collaborators) lead us through the Mediterranean world and its music enriched by the multicultural influences of the various peoples and cultures that inhabit it. In particular, I would like to point out the way Stella approaches these songs. All songs she “colours” with a sound very close to the classical music and thus to that music it gives “seriousness” peculiar to a work from the field of classical musical areas. Musical performances are characterized by a calm atmosphere enriched with melodic lines that lead us to tranquility. Songs with a faster rhythm are also represented and equally compete with light songs with their unquestionable values. All music from album “Ciel” has been written by Thanos Stavridis except the songs no. 6. (Sivuca), no. 9. (Jean-Louis Matinnier) and no. 11. (J.S. Bach – Ch. Gounod).
I am grateful to Thanos for pointing me to this valuable discography. In addition, he gave me all the relevant information to present the issue to you in detail. It’s up to you to find a way and time to listen to the album “Ciel“. I guarantee your satisfaction.
Tales from the Box – “Ciel” – 1. Endless Story ; 2. As if in a Dream ; 3. Sunset Bossa ; 4. Moon Army (Giorgos’ Lullaby) ; 5. After the Rainbow ; 6. Um Tom Para Jobim ; 7. Mediterranean Travel ; 8. Rain Waltz ; 9. Amischa ; 10. Anemos ; 11. Ave Maria
Related article – THANOS STAVRIDIS – Spicy Margarita (Reviewed by: Dragutin Matošević)
Photo – John Gouzidis
https://www.facebook.com/thanos.stavridis / https://thanosstavridis.com / https://www.facebook.com/stella.temp.7 /
YT – Tales from the Box – After The Rainbow
