Byzantium After Byzantium is a powerful contemporary concert program showcasing new works by composer and oud virtuoso Kyriakos Kalaitzidis. Performed alongside the acclaimed ensemble “En Chordais,” the project explores how Byzantine aesthetic and modal tradition can serve as a vital language for modern music creation.

The fall of the Byzantine Empire did not extinguish its culture; rather, its artistic legacy remained a powerful force shaping Eastern and Southeastern Europe. In modern times, this heritage has profoundly influenced major composers such as Mikis Theodorakis, John Tavener, Ljubica Marić, and Arvo Pärt, proving that Byzantine aesthetics extend far beyond the sacred sphere into modern creation.

Rooted in this continuum and set against the rich cultural background of Thessaloniki—a living hub of Byzantine heritage—Byzantium After Byzantium presents a repertoire of vibrant original instrumental compositions and songs by Kyriakos Kalaitzidis. Informed by his extensive research into post-Byzantine secular music, his rich experience as a cantor, and decades of international performance, the program is far from a nostalgic look back. Instead, it offers a fresh, contemporary artistic response to the vital question: “Why Byzantium today?”

Key Highlights

• Original Contemporary Compositions: New works that creatively reimagine Byzantine modal structures through a modern concert lens.
• Artistic Excellence & Academic Rigor: Created by Kyriakos Kalaitzidis, combining a deep scientific background with masterly performance practice.
• Internationally Acclaimed Legacy: Kalaitzidis’s works have been presented on prestigious global stages and released by renowned international labels, including Harmonia Mundi, Naxos, Buda Musique, and Accords Croisés.
• World-Class Ensemble: Brought to life by “En Chordais,” seamlessly bridging Mediterranean virtuosity with contemporary music presentation.

Video from the premiere at the Rotunda of Thessaloniki, an UNESCO World Heritage Site available on the Greek National Opera website: https://allofgreeceone.culture.gov.gr/on-demand/to-vyzantio-meta-to-vyzantio/.

“A score of Byzantine music, arranged performed by the Greek ensemble En Chordais,

that will soak into your system and stay there”. The New York Times