Album insights
Eleni Karaindrou, a Greek composer, has produced some of her most potent music through her collaborative efforts with stage director Antonis Antypas. The remarkable work "Medea", much like the earlier piece "Trojan Women", is a product of this fruitful partnership, crafted specifically for performances at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. The music resonates with a raw emotional power, with Karaindrou infusing her themes into a small ensemble. Through a blend of santouri, ney, lyra, and clarinets, the music creates an atmosphere that feels both ancient and modern. Despite using fewer instruments, the composer manages to convey a grand orchestral scale. The lyrics, adapted into Modern Greek by Giorgos Cheimonas from Euripides' work, are soulfully performed by a 15-member chorus led by Antonis Kontogeorgiou, and occasionally by Karaindrou herself.