INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN POLYPHONY FESTIVAL (FEP) IN RHODES ISLAND, GREECE. A FESTIVAL FOR EVERYONE

IN PRINCIPIA ERAT VERBUM ( Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος)

The multidisciplinary European Polyphony Festival, a cultural beacon.

The European Polyphony Festival celebrates its eighth creative year in Rhodes.

Dedicated to classical music, visual arts and cinema, the 8th European Polyphony Festival opens its doors from September 28 to October 10, 2026, presenting a rich and multifaceted programme of events. The programme includes musical concerts, exhibitions, musical and historical walks, educational music workshops, a spectacular open-air aerial music performance, as well as many more surprises. A high-calibre artistic event

For fourteen consecutive days, the medieval city of Rhodes is transformed into a vibrant laboratory of music and art. The Festival offers audiences the opportunity to take part in a wide range of interactive music workshops and attend concerts of exceptional artistic quality, featuring internationally acclaimed artists and musical ensembles. It offers a fresh and engaging way for audiences to discover classical music through the arts.

One of the Festival’s principal aims is to highlight Rhodes as a leading artistic capital and establish the island as one of the world’s most important destinations for cultural tourism. Another key priority of the Festival is to foster and promote music among younger generations. It is very important to say that admission is free to all events.

What the FEP2026 programme includes: Three concerts featuring international artists and musical ensembles, a musical and historical walk, a spectacular aerial music performance by Compagnie Transe Express, featuring the breathtaking production Maudits Sonnants / The Cursed Bell Ringers, presenting a unique celestial spectacle. Also a photography and sound exhibition, “Résonances”, exploring disability through art.Two educational programmes:

a. Music workshops with the Mikrokosmos Choir team, aimed at more than 1,000 primary school children.

b. Workshops and rehearsals with Nikos Kypourgos to prepare the children’s choirs and the Rhodes Music School for the proposed concert. And, an online screening programme of short films and documentaries. The Artistic Direction: Chrysanthos Antoniou, co-founder and co-artistic director Festival European Polyphony, Savvas Karantzias, co-founder and co-artistic director Festival European Polyphony​ and the sensibility and knowledge of Professor Dr. Spyros Syropoulos.

​​​​ART EXHIBITION – PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOUND, “Résonances”

The 8th edition of the European Polyphony Festival offers the opportunity to discover the unique exhibition “Résonances”, featuring photography and sound art — the result of an artistic residency born from the collaboration of four artists: Peggy Herbeau and Christophe Fillieule (photography), Chrysanthos Antoniou and Savvas Karantzias (composition).

The exhibition traces the journey of a composer with a disability to Tallinn, where he collaborated with one of the world’s most renowned choirs to create a new musical work. Résonances documents this unique encounter and explores disability through an interdisciplinary lens that merges sound and image. It challenges perceptions and invites visitors to reconsider their relationship with the senses. Each photograph is paired with an original musical composition. QR codes placed beside the works allow visitors to listen to the music as they explore the exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own headphones for an immersive experience.

This project was made possible through the Culture Moves Europe mobility program, funded by the European Union and the Goethe-Institut, in collaboration with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Festival of European Polyphony.

«ODYSSEUS» LECTURE & MUSICAL PERFORMANCE (30 September, 2026)

The work “Odysseus” was born from a collaboration between Professor Spyros Syropoulos and the two co-directors of the European Polyphony Festival, Savvas Karantzias and Chrysanthos Antoniou.

It is a multidimensional artistic project that combines spoken word and music, highlighting the polyphonic and multicultural dimensions of the Odyssey, while also exploring issues such as disability and inclusion.

The full version of the work revisits eight episodes from the Odyssey through a close interplay between narration and original musical composition. Inspired by the tradition of the ancient rhapsodes, the project highlights the universal, polyphonic and intercultural dimension of the Homeric epic.

The audience will have the opportunity to hear one of the musical sections, “Hades”, featuring the musical signature of Savvas Karantzias, performed by the Mikrokosmos Choir, with Chrysanthos Antoniou on violin.

The lecture, with very intelligent powerpoint, will provide the audience with interpretive tools for listening, placing the musical work “Hades” within its mythological context and enhancing its artistic appreciation. At the Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes.

A musical and historical walk

A spectacular aerial music performance by Compagnie Transe Express, featuring the breathtaking production Maudits Sonnants / The Cursed Bell Ringers, presenting a unique celestial spectacle

Artistic Direction​: Chrysanthos Antoniou, co-founder and co-artistic director Festival European Polyphony and Savvas Karantzias, co-founder and co-artistic director Festival European Polyphony.​

CONCERTS: Concert #01 “Katharsis”

FRIDAY, October 2, 2026

Performers: Dulci Jubilo Chamber Choir, Mikrokosmos Choir – Octet, Christopher Gibert, musical direction, composition, Savvas Karantzias, Chrysanthos Antoniou, violin, Sébastien Gisbert, percussions.

Musical Programme:

The art of movement and stillness is revealed through a polyphonic programme that takes the audience to the heart of sound, highlighting the dynamics and subtle details of contemporary musical creation.

It explores the encounter of souls through the human voice, as a space of dialogue between cultures and eras. At the heart of the concert are new compositions, including Katharsis (2023–2024), a work for mixed choir, percussion and solo violin by Greek composer Savvas Karantzias. It is a contemporary Mass in nine movements, dedicated to Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis.

In contrapuntal dialogue, French composer Christopher Gibert presents Hymnus, an original work inspired by a 13th-century Occitan manuscript, combining texts from the New Testament. This rare source guides a quest for light, giving rise to a deeply contemplative musical language, at the Church of the Annunciation of the Theotokos

SATURDAY, October 3 2026

Concert #02 “À la française”. FRENCH VOICES — From Poetry to Prayer

Performers: Dulci Jubilo Chamber Choir, Christopher Gibert, musical direction

Musical Programme :

A musical journey between poetry and spirituality.

From Saint-Saëns to Debussy, Ravel, Poulenc and Duruflé, this programme reveals the richness and elegance of French vocal music. From the poetry of Charles d’Orléans to sacred works inspired by prayer, nature and contemplation, the programme brings together generations of composers in a celebration of the French musical tradition. A journey where voices become poetry, landscape, prayer and light.

Full repertoire: Camille Saint-Saëns, Christopher Gibert, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Caroline Marçot, Pierre Villette, Francis Poulenc, Thomas Ospital, Maurice Duruflé, Pauline Langlois de Swarte., at the Modern Greek Art Museum of Rhodes

MONDAY, October 5, 2026. CONCERT #03 – CHILDREN’S DAY

“POLYPHONIC MUSIC ENCOUNTER AND CREATIVE EXPRESSION”

Following the successful organization of the meeting between the children’s choirs of Rhodes and the Edvard Grieg Girls’ Choir from Norway, the Festival, wishing to contribute to the continued development and strengthening of the work of Rhodes’ children’s choirs and their educators, dedicates a significant part of its programme to children through the creation of “Children’s Day”.

This year, the Festival has the great honour of welcoming the distinguished teacher, educator and musician Nikos Kypourgos. This is a unique opportunity for the children of the participating children’s choirs and the Rhodes Music School to express themselves, learn and create through music and the creative approach of Nikos Kypourgos. A unique collaboration bringing together children’s voices through a repertoire of classical music and traditional melodies, promising an evening filled with polyphony, surprises and emotion.

Performers: Children’s Choir Ensemble of the Rhodes Municipal Conservatory, conducted by Angela Spanou, Amabile Children’s Choir of the Communication & Cultural Foundation of the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes, conducted by Michalis Kalaentzis, European Choir of the Rhodes Music School, conducted by Michalis Kalaentzis, “Agios Savvas” Archangelos Children’s Choir and the Children’s Choir of the 1st Sgourou Primary School, conducted by Petros Tsimperopoulos, Rhodes Municipality Children’s Choir, conducted by Georgios Sakellaridis, Rhodes Music School. Programme : Manos Hadjidakis, Nikos Kypourgos, and others, at the Melina Merkouri Theatre of the Medieval Moat, Medieval Town of Rhodes

SPECTACULAR AERIAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE

Compagnie Transe Express is a French group of artists who combine theatre and music in their performances and parades. During the Festival, they will present one of their most spectacular creations.

The Cursed Bell Ringers/Maudits Sonnants

A poetic and unexpected open-air performance, a celestial spectacle that transforms public space into a stage of dreams. Strange and theatrical figures, full of humour and virtuosity, gather around the Heavenly Carillon. The bells ring out in a moment of collective harmony and, as the performers slowly rise into the air, the audience is swept away into a breathtaking vision that offers a rare sense of eternity. With no electronic amplification, the sounds travel across the entire city, creating a magical experience of celebration, emotion and shared participation.

More than 1.000 students from the primary schools of Rhodes will take part in this spectacular musical show, transforming the city centre into a great celebration of sound, colour and movement. The students will prepare for the performance by participating in music workshops organised by the Festival in collaboration with the educational team of the Mikrokosmos Choir.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2026

Artists’ Meet-Up — With Many Surprises Before the Grand Show 

Music, percussion, face painting, magic…Performers: Percussion Ensemble of the Rhodes Music Schools, under the direction of Nikolaos Chasapis, Rhodes Primary Schools. Open-Air Theatre “To Rodon”, Eleftherias Square.

Also afterwards, spectacular aerial music performance. Performers: Compagnie Transe Express, at the Rhodes’ Town Hall, Eleftherias Square.

MUSICAL AND HISTORICAL WALK ​

Walk through the Medieval City of Rhodes, discovering its hidden history and acoustics.

The much-anticipated musical walk returns to the Old Town, offering an innovative connection between music and historical exploration. Professor Spyros Syropoulos will bring the myths and stories of the Old Town to life, walking alongside the musicians.

A study of sound transmission in different locations and acoustic environments will be carried out, while the audience will have the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas, and engage in dialogue with the participating artists.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2026. Participants: Mikrokosmos Choir – Octet and Dr. Spyros Syropoulos, at the Medieval City of Rhodes. There are also MUSIC WORKSHOPS FOR ADULTS (These interactive workshops are aimed at amateur and professional musicians who are interested in experiencing a completely different approach to music), AND MUSIC WORKSHOPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

The music and artistic practice workshop is aimed at young people aged 6–12 and 13–18. Appropriate practices and pedagogical approaches will be applied according to the participants’ age group.

CINEMA – SCREENINGS, Documentary Screening. A documentary produced by the European Polyphony Festival, “The Art of Movement” (2025), Olympia Gauguet.

The documentary The Art of Movement explores the issue of disability and accessibility through the lens of artistic creation. It follows the journey of a composer with a disability as he undertakes an original composition for one of the world’s most renowned choirs.

Through this journey, the documentary highlights the challenges and sources of inspiration of an artist confronting the realities of accessibility, while at the same time celebrating music as a driving force. It captures the overcoming of limitations and the collective strength involved in the pursuit of an artistic expression without boundaries.

Partners of the FEP

The European Polyphony Festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy. It is co-organised by the South Aegean Region, the Municipality of Rhodes and the association Arts Spontanés.

With the valued support of the Ministry of Culture, the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, Rhodes Municipal Enterprises S.A. (D.E.R.M.A.E.), the Directorate of Culture – Municipality of Rhodes, the organization for the promotion of Rhodian Tourism (PROTOUR), the French Consular Authority in Rhodes, the Rhodes Hotel Association, the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Dodecanese of the Ministry of Culture, the Ars Artis organisation, the Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes, the Holy Metropolis of Rhodes, as well as private sponsors who generously support culture, such as TELEKOM, Mitsis and Atrium Hotels & Resorts.

Media Partners: ERT South Aegean, Third Programme, Athens News Agency, Radio Lychnari, Aegean Television of the Dodecanese, Tharri Television, Dimokratiki, I Rodiaki, Rodos Report, Lotos Magazine, En Lefko.

Nota bene: I attended many concerts and everything was a huge privilege and honor, specially to meet Dr. Spyros Syropoulos, Savvas Karantzias and Christopher Gibert. Thank all of them and the gorgeous and prepared island of Rhodes, so precious to me.

Information: FEP. Its organization and selection, Alicia Perris. Webmaster, Julio Serrano.