Anastasis Sarakatsanos
Anastasis Sarakatsanos was born in Athens, in 1983. Sarakatsanos graduated from the Department of Traditional Music in Epirus and continued his studies at the University of Sussex & Royal Holloway, focusing on mixed composition techniques (theatre, film music, music for media). Since 2006 he has been active as musical director in a number of theatre productions in Greece, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Since 2015, Anastasis lives in Amsterdam, where he works as musician, composer and storyteller. He has also worked as academic advisor on music and television productions, as well as lecturer on composition and music technology.
WORKSHOP
The musical rendition of political texts: The case of Aristophanes
Participants will examine the structure of ancient drama and the multi-faceted role of the Chorus through their study and analysis of ancient texts. Focusing on excerpts from Aristophanes’ oeuvre, participants will tackle political concepts found in the comic playwright’s body of work and their relevance to the contemporary political reality, a process which will enable them to approach ancient drama on the contemporary stage.
Furthermore, through a series of breathing, vocal and singing exercises, based on Aristophanes’ choral parts set to music, participants will focus on the relationship between music and language. In what ways do text and music interact? What is the use and functionality of music in stage interpretations? How can voice be utilized as a performing tool? The participants will also examine the various uses of music in diverse contemporary genres, including music composed for cinema and musicals, and cross-influences.