HISTORY

BRIEF HISTORY

The all male Saint George Karitsi Choir was founded in 1897 by the musician Themistokles Polikratis and has been active ever since.
Both amateur and professional lyric artists have offered their services. The Choir was directed by Themistokles Polikratis, along with well known to the Greek audience composers, such as Theodore Spathis, and P. Glikofridis. After Glikofridis’ death in 1944, the First Tenor since 1932 Alekos Theofilopoulos succeeded him, directing the Choir until his own death in 1993. He served the chorus for 61 years.

For functional reasons, the maestro A. Theofilopoulos created the Non Speculative Association in 1974, named “Saint George Karitsi Chorus- Themistokles Polikratis”, mentioned in the archives of the Cultural Associations of the Athens Prefecture with registration number F-7058.

In the last 44 years the Chorus has consolidated its reputation through events in Greece and Europe. It has given concerts in 50 cities of: England, Egypt, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and Bulgaria, always receiving flattering critiques from the local press.

We would like to point out the Choir’s participation on several occasions, such as:
the Athens Festival at the Erodius theatre in 1977, at the Festival in Flanders, Belgium in 1977, the recording of an album in France with the invitation of the recording Company Armonia Mundi in 1982, the participation in the Grand-Pardon Festival in Chaumont, France in 1990, at the Festival of Langres, France in 1995 and the live transmission of the concert on the radio station France Musique, at the Festival of Reims, France in 1995, the appearances at the Athens Palace of Music in 2002, and so on and so forth.
It should also be mentioned that the Choir has given many concerts in Athens and throughout the provinces of Greece.

A big event was the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the Choir which was celebrated in Athens on April 14th 1997.

Every February the Choir organizes the Chorus Festival of “Mousiki Antilaloi” (“Musical Echoes”), with the participation of different selected choruses each year, and it usually honors and awards personalities of the Music, Business and the Literary world.

On Sundays and on festive occasions, part of the Choir sings at the Saint George Karitsi Temple, under Mimis Malisianos who has been replacing A. Theofilopoulos since 1988, when due to health issues the latter was unable to attend. After Theofilopoulos’ death, Massalianos officially took over.

In 2002, the Board of Directors aiming to boost the Choir, addressed the Maestro Stavros Beris, member of the Choir, to teach and direct throughout all its concerts.

The Maestro accepted eagerly and on a volunteer basis. Thus, the Choir can today perform under his direction a vast repertoire including Orthodox and Catholic Hymns, Greek and foreign songs, themes from operas and operettas, and several patriotic, folklore, and renaissance songs. (The Choir, directed by the Maestro S. Beris has given 45 concerts in Greece and abroad- Egypt, England and Bulgaria.)

The Chorus today consists of 40-45 members and the Maestro. Everyone is on a volunteer basis. Their reward is the satisfaction they derive from their music.