Constantine Koukias
Encyclopedia
Constantine Koukias is a Greek
-Australia
n composer
and flautist
.
He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of IHOS Music Theatre and Opera
, based in Hobart
, Tasmania
. He is well known for his innovative work in contemporary opera and other forms. In 1993 he was commissioned by the Sydney Opera House Trust in association with REM Theatre to compose Icon, a large-scale music theatre piece for the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House
.
In 1995 he composed and directed Medea for the State Theatre of South Australia. In 1997 his Incantation II for soprano and digital delay won the International Valentino Bucchi
Vocal Prize in Rome and in 2004 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.
His work Prayer Bells
, which draws on traditions of Latin, Hebrew and Byzantine chant, was performed at the Melbourne
Federation Festival in 2001. Constantine has composed and directed several large-scale operas, including Days and Nights with Christ
, To Traverse Water, MIKROVION, The Divine Kiss, and Tesla - Lightning in His Hand, first performed in 2003.
Music theatre works include Orfeo, Rapture - Sonic Taxi Performance, Schwa – The Neutral Vowel, Antigone and The Da Ponte Project. Koukias has been the recipient of numerous international commissions and awards.
His design credits include the internationally acclaimed Odyssey and Medea. He is currently working on his large scale opera Olegas, about eminent Tasmanian wilderness photographer Olegas Truchanas
.
and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
.
1979 – 1981 Ian Cugley
– Composition, University of Tasmania
1981 – 1985 Johannes Roose – Flute, University of Tasmania
1983 – 1984 Don Kay
– Composition, University of Tasmania
1984 – 1985 Michael Cubbin – Flute, University of Tasmania
1984 – 1985 Peter Billiam – Composition, University of Tasmania
1985 Keith Humble – Composition, La Trobe University, Melbourne
1985 – 1988 Michael Scott – Flute, NSW Conservatorium of Music
1986 Mark Kopytman – Composition, Rubin University of Jerusalem
1986 Richard David Hames, Composers School, Adelaide
1986 – 1988 Thermos Mexis Greek Instrumentation, Sydney
1986 – 1989 Ross Edwards
– Composition, Sydney
Days and Nights with Christ
A Opera in Two Parts, Sung in Ecclesiastical & Modern Greek. Premiered 1990.
To Traverse Water
A Opera in Two Parts, Sung in Ecclesiastical & Modern Greek. Premiered 1992.
Mikrovion
A Opera in Five parts . Premiered in 1994.
An Opera in 2 parts, Sung in English about the life and times of Nikola Tesla
. Premiered in 2003.
in 1993.
Within a Prayer at Lamplighting
For Orchestra. Commissioned by the China National Symphony Orchestra. Premiered in 2003.
Ancient Immortal Spirit
For Orchestra and Mezzo Soprano Soloist. Premiered by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 2004.
PENTEKSOTARION – Prayer Bells
For 3 Solo Chanters and Male Choirs with Hand Bells. Premiered in 2001
For mixed girls voices with river stones & digital delay.
Sung in Greek
, Text from the Divine Liturgy.
TROPARION 2 – 'Only-begotten Son'
For Solo Counter Tenor and Male Choir ( Treble, Tenor, Baritone & Basses ) with River Stones.
Sung in Greek, Text from the Divine Liturgy.
For Solo Soprano. Premiered in 1983
Echoi 1 – Incantation
For Soprano & Digital Delay. Premiered in 1985
Echoi 2 – Byzantine Images
For Amplified Flute & Digital Delay. Premiered in 1986
1000 Door, A Thousand Windows
For Soprano & Video Projection. Premiered in 2003.
Seven Veils
For Piano & Video Projection. Premiered in 2003.
, Michael Lampard
and Thanapoom Sirichang
.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
-Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and flautist
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
.
He is the co-founder and Artistic Director of IHOS Music Theatre and Opera
IHOS Music Theatre and Opera
IHOS Music Theatre and Opera is a Tasmanian opera company was established in Hobart in 1990, by composer and artistic director Constantine Koukias, and production director Werner Ihlenfeld to create original music-theatre and opera works.-Major repertoire:...
, based in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. He is well known for his innovative work in contemporary opera and other forms. In 1993 he was commissioned by the Sydney Opera House Trust in association with REM Theatre to compose Icon, a large-scale music theatre piece for the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
.
In 1995 he composed and directed Medea for the State Theatre of South Australia. In 1997 his Incantation II for soprano and digital delay won the International Valentino Bucchi
Valentino Bucchi
Valentino Bucchi was an Italian composer.-Biography:Bucchi was the son of musicians...
Vocal Prize in Rome and in 2004 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship.
His work Prayer Bells
Prayer Bells
Prayer Bells is a choral concert piece by Tasmanian composer Constantine Koukias featuring dozens of handbells cast for the celebration of Australia's 2001 Centenary of Federation . Also comprising three solo cantors and a small male choir, the one-hour work premiered at the Federation Festival of...
, which draws on traditions of Latin, Hebrew and Byzantine chant, was performed at the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Federation Festival in 2001. Constantine has composed and directed several large-scale operas, including Days and Nights with Christ
Days and Nights with Christ
Days and Nights with Christ is the first of five full-scale operas by the Australian composer Constantine Koukias , and was the first opera / music theatre production by IHOS Experimental Theatre Troupe . It premiered at Hobart’s Salamanca Arts Festival in 1990 and two years later was a highlight...
, To Traverse Water, MIKROVION, The Divine Kiss, and Tesla - Lightning in His Hand, first performed in 2003.
Music theatre works include Orfeo, Rapture - Sonic Taxi Performance, Schwa – The Neutral Vowel, Antigone and The Da Ponte Project. Koukias has been the recipient of numerous international commissions and awards.
His design credits include the internationally acclaimed Odyssey and Medea. He is currently working on his large scale opera Olegas, about eminent Tasmanian wilderness photographer Olegas Truchanas
Olegas Truchanas
Olegas Truchanas was a Lithuanian-Australian conservationist and nature photographer.He was a key figure in the attempt to stop the damming of the ecologically sensitive Lake Pedder in South West Tasmania by the Hydro Electricity Commission...
.
Education
Constantine Koukias studied at both the Tasmanian Conservatorium of MusicTasmanian Conservatorium of Music
The Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music forms part of the faculty of Arts at the University of Tasmania. It is a music training institution with courses and specializations in classical and contemporary music, music education, technology and composition....
and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
.
1979 – 1981 Ian Cugley
Ian Cugley
- Early life:He was born in Melbourne in 1945. He gained early prominence with two orchestral works, Pan, the Lake and Prelude for Orchestra, which were performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in 1967 and subsequently recorded on EMI...
– Composition, University of Tasmania
1981 – 1985 Johannes Roose – Flute, University of Tasmania
1983 – 1984 Don Kay
Don Kay (composer)
Donald Henry Kay AM is an Australian classical composer.Don Kay attained a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Melbourne after which he taught music at Colac High School, Victoria, 1957-59. He then went on to teach music at Peckham Manor Comprehensive School for Boys, London, UK 1959-64...
– Composition, University of Tasmania
1984 – 1985 Michael Cubbin – Flute, University of Tasmania
1984 – 1985 Peter Billiam – Composition, University of Tasmania
1985 Keith Humble – Composition, La Trobe University, Melbourne
1985 – 1988 Michael Scott – Flute, NSW Conservatorium of Music
1986 Mark Kopytman – Composition, Rubin University of Jerusalem
1986 Richard David Hames, Composers School, Adelaide
1986 – 1988 Thermos Mexis Greek Instrumentation, Sydney
1986 – 1989 Ross Edwards
Ross Edwards (composer)
Ross Edwards is an Australian composer of a wide variety of music including orchestral and chamber music, choral music, children's music, opera and film music. He is not to be confused with a British up and coming singer-songwriter of the same name.-Life:Ross Edwards was born in Sydney...
– Composition, Sydney
Days and Nights with ChristDays and Nights with ChristDays and Nights with Christ is the first of five full-scale operas by the Australian composer Constantine Koukias , and was the first opera / music theatre production by IHOS Experimental Theatre Troupe . It premiered at Hobart’s Salamanca Arts Festival in 1990 and two years later was a highlight...
A Opera in Two Parts, Sung in Ecclesiastical & Modern Greek. Premiered 1990.To Traverse WaterTo Traverse WaterTo Traverse Water is an opera by Tasmanian composer Constantine Koukias that depicts a young Greek woman's departure for Australia and her settlement there...
A Opera in Two Parts, Sung in Ecclesiastical & Modern Greek. Premiered 1992.
MikrovionMikrovionMIKROVION, by Tasmanian composer Constantine Koukias, is described by Maria Shevtsova as "an epic opera about AIDS".The three-hour opera is in five parts and its 1994 premiere in Hobart, Tasmania, featured 16 principal performers, 7 musicians, 20 men and women in the vocal choruses, a semaphore...
- 36 Images in a Phantom Flux of Life
A Opera in Five parts . Premiered in 1994. Tesla – Lightning in His Hand
An Opera in 2 parts, Sung in English about the life and times of Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, mechanical engineer, and electrical engineer...
. Premiered in 2003.
Rapture – Sonic Taxi Performance
For solo voices, small chorus and ensemble. Premiered in 1999.Orchestral
ICON, for grand orchestra, antiphonal choir ( 80 voices ),8 percussionists and Tape. Premiered on the steps of the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
in 1993.
Within a Prayer at Lamplighting
For Orchestra. Commissioned by the China National Symphony Orchestra. Premiered in 2003.
Ancient Immortal Spirit
For Orchestra and Mezzo Soprano Soloist. Premiered by the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 2004.
PENTEKSOTARION – Prayer BellsPrayer BellsPrayer Bells is a choral concert piece by Tasmanian composer Constantine Koukias featuring dozens of handbells cast for the celebration of Australia's 2001 Centenary of Federation . Also comprising three solo cantors and a small male choir, the one-hour work premiered at the Federation Festival of...
For 3 Solo Chanters and Male Choirs with Hand Bells. Premiered in 2001Choral
TROPARION 1 – 'O 'Gladsome Light'For mixed girls voices with river stones & digital delay.
Sung in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
, Text from the Divine Liturgy.
TROPARION 2 – 'Only-begotten Son'
For Solo Counter Tenor and Male Choir ( Treble, Tenor, Baritone & Basses ) with River Stones.
Sung in Greek, Text from the Divine Liturgy.
Chamber
RequiescatFor Solo Soprano. Premiered in 1983
Echoi 1 – Incantation
For Soprano & Digital Delay. Premiered in 1985
Echoi 2 – Byzantine Images
For Amplified Flute & Digital Delay. Premiered in 1986
1000 Door, A Thousand Windows
For Soprano & Video Projection. Premiered in 2003.
Seven Veils
For Piano & Video Projection. Premiered in 2003.
Notable Students
In addition to an esteemed career as a composer, Koukias has mentored numerous composers including Matthew DeweyMatthew Dewey
Matthew Ingvald Dewey is an Australian composer and singer.-General information:Dewey is an Australian composer and singer who studied composition with Professor Douglas Knehans at the University of Tasmania and composition/theatrical design/singing with Greek-Australian composer/designer...
, Michael Lampard
Michael Lampard
Michael Robert Garth Lampard is a Tasmanian opera singer, conductor and composer born in Hobart.-Education and Early Acclaim:...
and Thanapoom Sirichang
Thanapoom Sirichang
Thanapoom Sirichang was born in the city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. He began his music study at the age of eight by joining the Prince Royals College Ensemble. He studied music with Gain Tepparat and Yutthapol Sakthamjareon until he finished college in 1998...
.