Projects
Solo Guitar
Featuring romantic, classical & electric guitar
MONOLOGUES
Isn't a “Monologue" having actually a dialogue with yourself?
“Monologues” aims to deliver the dialogue between the composer, performer and the instrument, like an actor delivering the most powerful lines, the solo guitar becomes a storyteller, reflecting a personal connection to the world around us today. “Monologues” is a mix of electric and acoustic sounds, early and modern works, whose diversity speak to our own times. This project is a recital made for three guitars (romantic, classical and electric), and
one guitarist. It is a journey through time. It includes works by the Renaissance composer John Dowland, J.S.Bach in arrangements for romantic guitar (lute like), a tribute to the "Segovian" repertoire presenting two masterpieces for classical guitar by two non-guitarists composers of the 20th century, Alexandre Tansman and Castelnuovo-Tedesco, as well as the world premiere of two new works dedicated to Dimitris by Leo Brouwer and Belle Chen, followed by arrangements of Chick Corea's famous children’s songs for electric guitar.
Bandoneon & Guitar
From Film to Tango
Dimitris Soukaras and the virtuoso Accordion & Bandoneon player Giancarlo Palena met at the Royal Academy of Music in London during their studies. Their common passion for Astor Piazzolla’s music brought them together in creating their duo in 2019. Palena Soukaras Duo has appeared in many music festivals across Italy, Greece the UK and Canada. They have performed at Emilia Romagna Festival, Sheerbrooke Music Festival, Patras International Festival, MUΣA Concert Series, Heraklion Cultural Center Concert Series and others. They have performed as soloists with Orchestra Filarmonica Campana, Oradea State Filarmonica, Patras String Orchestra, Academica Athens Orchestra. Their current touring program is an Hommage to film and tango music; pays a tribute to three great composers that marked the music history of their native countries: Ennio Morricone, Astor Piazzolla and Mikis Theodorakis.
Voice & Guitar
i. Travels with Guitar
Mezzo soprano Lotte-Betts Dean and Dimitris collaborate on various projects. "Travels with guitar" has been described as "Electrifying". With their Duo they have appeared in some of the UK's most important Chamber Music Festivals. "Travels with a Guitar'' a journey that leads us from the haunting tunes of John Dowland, and William Walton via music from southern Europe, Greece (Tsalahouris), France (Debussy), Spain (Manuel De Falla) to the vibrant rhythms of Brazilian Bossa Nova (Powel, Jobim, Bonfa).
ii. Time stands still
This project is an encounter between two of the greatest English singer-songwriters, each a genius of his time and both renowned for beautiful melancholy. Nick Drake achieved little critical success during his lifetime, but has since been widely acclaimed, with poets such as William Blake, William Butler Yeats, and Henry Vaughan, influencing his lyrics. Drake died in 1974 at the age of just 26 years, but left a musical legacy that “throbs with [an] aching beauty” (Rolling Stone). Born almost 400 years earlier, John Dowland is best known for his melancholy songs of the English Renaissance
Nimata
Nimata is an innovative musical program that aims to embark on the intricate tapestry of new music. This project brings together a dynamic ensemble of composers and performers, each contributing their unique voice to a sound exploration that takes music to new boarders. It explores the connections and threads that unite different musical styles and genres through a variety of musical instruments, providing a profound and thought-provoking experience for the audience. Nimata presents some of the most innovative young Greek composers and performers who studied at two of the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Their studies have been supported by the Athena Scholarship which broad them together, offering them shared experiences and financial support.
