Theodore Antoniou
Encyclopedia
Theodore Antoniou is a Greek composer and conductor. His works vary from operas and choral works to chamber music, from film and theatre music to solo instrumental works. In addition to his career as composer and conductor, he also holds the position of professor of composition at Boston University
. His education includes studies in violin, voice, and composition at the National Conservatory of Athens
, the Hellenic Conservatory
, and conducting at both The Hochschule für Musik
and the International Music Centre in Darmstadt
.
, Greece
. He has held teaching positions at Stanford University
, the University of Utah
, and the Philadelphia Musical Academy
. He currently holds the position of professor among the composition staff at Boston University, where he has served since 1978. He also leads and conducts the new music ensemble Alea III, which holds residence at Boston University. The ensemble performs frequently with new and premiering compositions, has worked with numerous renowned artists, and has toured Europe on numerous occasions.
As a conductor, Antoniou has worked with orchestras, small and ensembles, and musical organizations all over the globe. He has been engaged by several major orchestras and ensembles, such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, the Radio Orchestras of Berlin and Paris, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra
(Zurich), the National Opera of Greece
, and the Berkshire Music Center Orchestra. In 1974 he was engaged as assistant director of contemporary activities at the Tanglewood Music Center
in Lennox
, Massachusetts, and held that position until the summer of 1985. As as enthusiast and active performer of new music, Antoniou has founded various contemporary music ensembles, including ALEA II at Stanford University; ALEA III, at Boston University; the Philadelphia New Music Group; and the Hellenic Group of Contemporary Music. He also directs the ALEA III International Composition Competition. Furthermore, he has held the position of president of the National Greek Composers' Association and director of the Experimental Stage of National Opera of Greece since 1989.
As a composer, Antoniou has written more than a hundred and fifty compositions for theatre and film music. Many of Antoniou's compositions were commissioned by major orchestras around the world. Over two hundred of his works have been published by Bärenreiter Verlag
(Germany), G. Schirmer
(USA) and Philippos Nakas (Greece).
In terms of style, Antoniou's earlier works hesitated at first between a simple atonality and Bartókian folklorism. He later developed serial techniques and applied them in various refined forms, which continue to characterize his works. In the 1970s, the influences of Jani Christou
, Bernd Alois Zimmermann
, and Krzysztof Penderecki
became evident in his works (Leotsakos 2001).
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. His education includes studies in violin, voice, and composition at the National Conservatory of Athens
Athens Conservatoire
The Athens Conservatoire is the oldest conservatoire in modern Greece. It was founded in 1871 by the Athens Music and Drama Society. Initially, the musical instruments that were taught there were limited to the violin and the flute, representative of the ancient Greek Apollonian and Dionysian...
, the Hellenic Conservatory
Hellenic Conservatory
The Hellenic Conservatory was founded in Athens in 1919 by the composer Manolis Kalomiris. Kalomoiris was the conservatoire's director until 1926, when he left to found the National Conservatoire. The conservatoire early on opened a number of branches throughout Athens, in a number of cities in...
, and conducting at both The Hochschule für Musik
Hochschule für Musik und Theater München
The Hochschule für Musik und Theater München is one of the most respected traditional vocational universities in Germany specialising in music and the performing arts. The seat of the Hochschule is the former Führerbau of the NSDAP, located at Arcisstraße 12, on the eastern side of the Königsplatz...
and the International Music Centre in Darmstadt
Darmstadt
Darmstadt is a city in the Bundesland of Hesse in Germany, located in the southern part of the Rhine Main Area.The sandy soils in the Darmstadt area, ill-suited for agriculture in times before industrial fertilisation, prevented any larger settlement from developing, until the city became the seat...
.
Career
Antoniou was born in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. He has held teaching positions at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, and the Philadelphia Musical Academy
University of the Arts (Philadelphia)
The University of the Arts is one of the United States' oldest universities dedicated to the arts. Its campus makes up part of the Avenue of the Arts in Center City, Philadelphia...
. He currently holds the position of professor among the composition staff at Boston University, where he has served since 1978. He also leads and conducts the new music ensemble Alea III, which holds residence at Boston University. The ensemble performs frequently with new and premiering compositions, has worked with numerous renowned artists, and has toured Europe on numerous occasions.
As a conductor, Antoniou has worked with orchestras, small and ensembles, and musical organizations all over the globe. He has been engaged by several major orchestras and ensembles, such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra Chamber Players, the Radio Orchestras of Berlin and Paris, the Bavarian Radio Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....
(Zurich), the National Opera of Greece
Greek National Opera
The Greek National Opera is the country's state lyric opera company, located at 59 Akadimias Street in centralAthens. It is a public corporation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and administered by the Board of Trustees and its Artistic Director.The organization is responsible...
, and the Berkshire Music Center Orchestra. In 1974 he was engaged as assistant director of contemporary activities at the Tanglewood Music Center
Tanglewood Music Center
The Tanglewood Music Center is an annual summer music academy in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States, in which emerging professional musicians participate in performances, master classes and workshops designed to provide an intense training and networking experience...
in Lennox
Lenox, Massachusetts
Lenox is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Set in Western Massachusetts, it is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,077 at the 2000 census. Where the town has a border with Stockbridge is the site of Tanglewood, summer...
, Massachusetts, and held that position until the summer of 1985. As as enthusiast and active performer of new music, Antoniou has founded various contemporary music ensembles, including ALEA II at Stanford University; ALEA III, at Boston University; the Philadelphia New Music Group; and the Hellenic Group of Contemporary Music. He also directs the ALEA III International Composition Competition. Furthermore, he has held the position of president of the National Greek Composers' Association and director of the Experimental Stage of National Opera of Greece since 1989.
As a composer, Antoniou has written more than a hundred and fifty compositions for theatre and film music. Many of Antoniou's compositions were commissioned by major orchestras around the world. Over two hundred of his works have been published by Bärenreiter Verlag
Bärenreiter
Bärenreiter is a German classical music publishing house based in Kassel. The firm was founded by Karl Vötterle in Augsburg in 1923, and moved to Kassel in 1927, where it still maintains headquarters; it also has offices in Basel, London, New York and Prague...
(Germany), G. Schirmer
G. Schirmer
G. Schirmer Inc. is an American classical music publishing company based in New York City, founded in 1861. It publishes sheet music for sale and rental, and represents some well-known European music publishers in North America, such as the Italian Ricordi, Music Sales Affiliates ChesterNovello,...
(USA) and Philippos Nakas (Greece).
In terms of style, Antoniou's earlier works hesitated at first between a simple atonality and Bartókian folklorism. He later developed serial techniques and applied them in various refined forms, which continue to characterize his works. In the 1970s, the influences of Jani Christou
Jani Christou
Jani Christou was a Greek composer.He was born in Heliopolis, Egypt, of Greek parents. He was educated at the English School in Alexandria and he took his first piano lessons from various teachers and from the important Greek pianist Gina Bachauer...
, Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann
Bernd Alois Zimmermann was a post-WWII West German composer. He is perhaps best known for his opera Die Soldaten which is regarded as one of the most important operas of the 20th century...
, and Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki
Krzysztof Penderecki , born November 23, 1933 in Dębica) is a Polish composer and conductor. His 1960 avant-garde Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima for string orchestra brought him to international attention, and this success was followed by acclaim for his choral St. Luke Passion. Both these...
became evident in his works (Leotsakos 2001).
Orchestral
- Celebration (1994) - 12 minutes
- The GBYSO Music (1982) - 16 minutes
- Paean (1989) - 8 minutes
- Skolion (1986) - 15 minutes
Soloist(s) and Orchestra
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (1998) - 25 minutes
- Concerto for Violin and Strings (Version II)—“Cadenza for Leonidas” (1995) - 22 minutes
- Concerto/Fantasia (1989) - 18 minutes
- Eleven Aphighisis (Narrations) (1983) - 25 minutes
- North/South (1990) - 11 minutes
Large Ensemble (7 or more players)
- Dexiotechniká Idiómela (1989) - 12 minutes
- Ertnos (1986) - 17 minutes
- Concertino for Piano, Percussion & Strings, Op.#16b (1962)
Soloist(s) and Large Ensemble (7 or more players)
- Celebration VI (1996)
- Crete: The Great Dream (1984) - 16 minutes
- Epigrams (1981) - 16 minutes
Chorus and Orchestra/Ensemble
- Celebration III (1995) - 9 minutes
- Eros I (1990) - 15 minutes
- Oraseis Opsonde (1988) - 12 minutes
- Prometheus (1983) - 27 minutes
Recordings
- Impressions for Saxophone and Orchestra:Virtuosic Works by 20th Century Greek Composers (including Concerto piccolo by Antoniou, as well as Theodorakis, Skalkottas, Alexiadis, Tenidis, and Hadjidakis) Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Myron Michailidis, 2005-2006 Naxos