Othon Mataragas
Encyclopedia
OTHON, a.k.a. Othon Mataragas (born July 30, 1979), is a Greek composer
, songwriter
and pianist
.
and graduated at sixteen with Distinction after winning the Prize of Exceptional Interpretation and the Xanthopoulidis Prize. While in Greece, Othon gave numerous recitals including a concert in the memory of Gina Bachauer
. organised by the Cultural Center of the City of Halandri. He appeared on Greek television both national (ERT
, ANT1
) and private (Blue Sky) and won several competitions and awards such as the National X.O.N. prize.
in the UK where he studies piano and composition at the Royal College of Music
with British pianist Peter Katin
, Birkbeck College and at Trinity College of Music
with composers Andrew Poppy
and Stephen Montague
. As a Leverhulme Scholar at Trinity he wins the John Halford Prize. During this time he writes his first pieces but it is after leaving college that he begins his professional career as a composer and songwriter. In 2005 and during his time at Trinity College, he meets Ernesto Tomasini
with whom he starts an ongoing collaboration. As Othon & Tomasini they perform his music in concert halls (Festsaalen, Copenhagen, Denmark), theatres (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester), churches (Oratorio San Filippo Neri, Turin, Italy), museums (Centro Gallego de Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and clubs (INIT, Rome, Italy) around Europe and one of their concerts is broadcast on the Radio Nacional de Espana
. In November 2009 they appeared as Marc Almond
's special guests at the Roundhouse
. His last London performances with Tomasini took place on the West End
(Leicester Square Theatre) and at the National Portrait Gallery in June and July 2010.
and Peter Christopherson
, and Othon collaborates with them on various projects. In 2007, he performed a number of concerts with Current 93
. Other collaborations of note include those with composer Stephen Montague
(Sonic Swamp, commissioned by Eye Music for the Colourscape Music Festival 2006), fashion designer Nasir Mazhar (London Fashion Week
), photographer Hector de Gregorio and performance artist Ron Athey
with whom he performed in 2009 at the Napoli Teatro Festival Italia
. He composes music for the soundtracks of films by Bruce LaBruce
(Otto; or, Up With Dead People), Derek Jarman
(a new music setting for The Angelic Conversation
, played live at the GLBT Film Festival in Turin) and Jörg Buttgereit
(new soundtrack of Nekromantik
, played live at the Pre Final Fest in Rome)http://www.postromantic.com/index-dodo.html.
Othon's debut album, Digital Angel, which features the voices of Almond, Tibet and Tomasini, was released at the end of 2008 on the Durtro
Jnana label.
In October 2009 Othon gave the world premier of Boxer Coaster, the first piece ever composed for a pianist wearing boxing gloves, at the Pre Final Fest in Rome.
Othon is currently working on his second album entitled Impermanence, which will include vocal performances by Ernesto Tomasini
, Marc Almond
, Camille O'Sullivan
and Justin Jones
(from And Also the Trees
), at the guitar. "Impermanence" is released by Cherry Red Records/SFE in November 2011.
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...
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Early life
Othon Mataragas started to play the piano at the age of four and the following year he gave his first recital. At seven he entered in the National Conservatoire (Greece)National Conservatoire (Greece)
The Greek National Conservatoire was founded in Athens in 1926 by the composer Manolis Kalomiris and a number of other notable artists like Charikleia Kalomoiri, Marika Kotopouli, Dionysios Lavrangas, and Sophia Spanoudi...
and graduated at sixteen with Distinction after winning the Prize of Exceptional Interpretation and the Xanthopoulidis Prize. While in Greece, Othon gave numerous recitals including a concert in the memory of Gina Bachauer
Gina Bachauer
Gina Bachauer , was a Greek classical pianist who toured extensively in the United States and Europe....
. organised by the Cultural Center of the City of Halandri. He appeared on Greek television both national (ERT
ERT
ERT can stand for:*Earth-received time, a measurement used when dealing with interplanetary spacecraft*Electrical resistivity tomography, a geophysical imaging technique...
, ANT1
ANT1
Antenna, better known as ANT1, is a television network airing in Greece and Cyprus. The alternate spelling is play on words in Greek; ena is the Greek number 1, thus ANT1 is pronounced the same as Antenna . It launched on 31 December 1989, the same year as rival Mega Channel, and is owned by...
) and private (Blue Sky) and won several competitions and awards such as the National X.O.N. prize.
Career
At the end of the '90s he moves to LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the UK where he studies piano and composition at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
with British pianist Peter Katin
Peter Katin
Peter Roy Katin is a British pianist.-Biography:He attended Whitgift School in South Croydon and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 12, four years younger than the official entry age, where he studied under Harold Craxton...
, Birkbeck College and at Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
with composers Andrew Poppy
Andrew Poppy
Andrew Poppy is an English composer, pianist, and record producer.-Biography:From 1974 to 1979 he studied music at Royal Holloway College and Goldsmiths College University of London, studying piano with Susan Bradshaw and earning a B.M...
and Stephen Montague
Stephen Montague
Stephen Montague is a composer who grew up in West Virginia and Florida.-Education:After studying piano, conducting and composition at Florida State University B.M 1965 with Honors, M.M 1967, he received a doctorate in composition from Ohio State University in 1972...
. As a Leverhulme Scholar at Trinity he wins the John Halford Prize. During this time he writes his first pieces but it is after leaving college that he begins his professional career as a composer and songwriter. In 2005 and during his time at Trinity College, he meets Ernesto Tomasini
Ernesto Tomasini
Ernesto Tomasini is an Italian actor/singer/writer living in Britain. Best known for his more recent forays into contemporary music, he has behind himself a 20 year career on the stage.-Early performances:...
with whom he starts an ongoing collaboration. As Othon & Tomasini they perform his music in concert halls (Festsaalen, Copenhagen, Denmark), theatres (Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester), churches (Oratorio San Filippo Neri, Turin, Italy), museums (Centro Gallego de Arte Contemporáneo, Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and clubs (INIT, Rome, Italy) around Europe and one of their concerts is broadcast on the Radio Nacional de Espana
Radio Nacional de España
is Spain's national public radio service. Since 1973 it has formed, together with , a part of , the corporation responsible for managing national public-service broadcasting in Spain.-Origins of RNE:...
. In November 2009 they appeared as Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
's special guests at the Roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
. His last London performances with Tomasini took place on the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
(Leicester Square Theatre) and at the National Portrait Gallery in June and July 2010.
Projects & Collaborations
Almond is among the first artists to spot his talent, others include David TibetDavid Tibet
David Tibet is a British poet and artist who founded the music group Current 93, of which he is the only full-time member. He had earlier collaborated with Psychic TV and 23 Skidoo...
and Peter Christopherson
Peter Christopherson
Peter Martin Christopherson, a.k.a. Sleazy was a musician, video director and designer, and former member of the influential British design agency Hipgnosis....
, and Othon collaborates with them on various projects. In 2007, he performed a number of concerts with Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
. Other collaborations of note include those with composer Stephen Montague
Stephen Montague
Stephen Montague is a composer who grew up in West Virginia and Florida.-Education:After studying piano, conducting and composition at Florida State University B.M 1965 with Honors, M.M 1967, he received a doctorate in composition from Ohio State University in 1972...
(Sonic Swamp, commissioned by Eye Music for the Colourscape Music Festival 2006), fashion designer Nasir Mazhar (London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week
London Fashion Week is an apparel trade show held in London, England twice each year, in February and September. It is one of the "Big Four" fashion weeks, along with New York Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.-Organization:...
), photographer Hector de Gregorio and performance artist Ron Athey
Ron Athey
Ron Athey is an American performance artist associated with body art and with extreme performance art. He has performed in the U.S. and internationally . Athey's work explores challenging subjects like the relationships between desire, sexuality, and traumatic experience...
with whom he performed in 2009 at the Napoli Teatro Festival Italia
Napoli Teatro Festival Italia
The Napoli Teatro Festival Italia is an international festival which takes place every year during the month of June in Naples, Italy. The Festival’s organization selects, produces and commissions plays, exhibitions and artistic performances, involving artists from all over the world for the...
. He composes music for the soundtracks of films by Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce
Bruce LaBruce is a Canadian writer, filmmaker, photographer and underground gay porn director based in Toronto, Ontario.-Biography:...
(Otto; or, Up With Dead People), Derek Jarman
Derek Jarman
Michael Derek Elworthy Jarman was an English film director, stage designer, diarist, artist, gardener and author.-Life:...
(a new music setting for The Angelic Conversation
The Angelic Conversation
The Angelic Conversation is a CD soundtrack released by Coil for the film The Angelic Conversation."Enochian Calling", "Angelic Stations" and a few other tracks use samples from How to Destroy Angels...
, played live at the GLBT Film Festival in Turin) and Jörg Buttgereit
Jörg Buttgereit
Jörg Buttgereit is a German writer/director known for his controversial films. He was born in Berlin, Germany and has lived there for his entire life.He is maybe best known for his 1987 film Nekromantik....
(new soundtrack of Nekromantik
Nekromantik
NEKRomantik is a 1987 West German horror film directed by Jörg Buttgereit. This frequently controversial movie, banned in a number of countries, has become a cult film over the years due to its transgressive subject matter and audacious imagery...
, played live at the Pre Final Fest in Rome)http://www.postromantic.com/index-dodo.html.
Othon's debut album, Digital Angel, which features the voices of Almond, Tibet and Tomasini, was released at the end of 2008 on the Durtro
Durtro
Durtro was a British independent record label, established by the British poet, singer, songwriter, and visual artist David Tibet in 1988, to publish his own work, and that of fellow friends and musicians. It was replaced by one of Tibet's earlier labels, Coptic Cat, in 2010.Nearly every release...
Jnana label.
In October 2009 Othon gave the world premier of Boxer Coaster, the first piece ever composed for a pianist wearing boxing gloves, at the Pre Final Fest in Rome.
Othon is currently working on his second album entitled Impermanence, which will include vocal performances by Ernesto Tomasini
Ernesto Tomasini
Ernesto Tomasini is an Italian actor/singer/writer living in Britain. Best known for his more recent forays into contemporary music, he has behind himself a 20 year career on the stage.-Early performances:...
, Marc Almond
Marc Almond
Marc Almond is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell...
, Camille O'Sullivan
Camille O'Sullivan
Camille O'Sullivan is a Irish singer, actress, and entertainer. -Background:...
and Justin Jones
Justin Jones
Justin Jones is an English musician and guitarist.Jones grew up in Inkberrow. There he founded And Also The Trees together with Nick and Graham Havas and his brother Simon Huw Jones...
(from And Also the Trees
And also the trees
And Also The Trees are an English rock band, formed in 1979 in the United Kingdom. They are most notable for their poetic lyrics and evocative music which is strongly influenced by their native English countryside.-History :...
), at the guitar. "Impermanence" is released by Cherry Red Records/SFE in November 2011.
Discography
- When I Leave You (self produced EP, 2007)
- Otto; or, Up With Dead People (Crippled Dick Hot Wax Records, 2008)
- Digital Angel (Durtro Jnana, 2008)
- Silky Hands of a Rough Piano Boy (Tapeworm, 2011)
Selected Recent Concerts
- Gifts of the Spirits, Whitworth Hall, Manchester (June 2011)
- Othon & Tomasini, We Dream in Colour, Six D.O.G.S., Athens (Apr 2011)
- Othon & Tomasini with Theo Blakemann & Ben Molder, SINSAL Festival, Teatro Lara, Madrid, Spain (Nov 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini with Theo Blakemann & Ben Molder, SINSAL Festival, Teatro Joffre, Ferrol, Spain (Nov 2010)
- Gifts of the Spirits, The People's Palace, London, UK (Nov 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini, Warehouse 9, Copenhagen, Denmark (Sep 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini, National Portrait Gallery, London UK (Aug 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini, Leicester Square Theatre, London, UK (Jun 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini, Sala Ambigu, Villadolid, Spain (May 2010)
- Othon & Tomasini, special guests for Marc Almond, The Roundhouse, London, UK (Nov 2009)
- Othon & Tomasini, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, UK (Oct 2009)
- Post Romantic Empire, live soundtrack, Rome, Italy (Oct 2009)
- Othon & Tomasini, Post Romantic Empire, Rome, Italy (Oct 2009)
- The History of Ecstasy, Napoli Theatre Festival, Museo Madre, Naples, Italy (Jun 2009)
External links
- Othon Mataragas official website
- Othon Mataragas on Facebook
- Othon Mataragas Profile on 1point618.com
- Othon Mataragas on MySpace
- Othon Mataragas at Last.fmLast.fmLast.fm is a music website, founded in the United Kingdom in 2002. It has claimed 30 million active users in March 2009. On 30 May 2007, CBS Interactive acquired Last.fm for UK£140m ....
- Othon interview for Postwave.gr, Greece (05.04.11)
- Interview by Agustin G. Cascales for Shangay, Spain
- Othon & Tomasini interview and live performance in the program Carne Cruda for Radio 3, Spain (15.11.10)
- Othon & Tomasini performance in the program Fluido Rosa for Radio 3, Spain (26.07.09)