Krinió Papastávrou

The Greek born Krinió Papastávrou received her musical education in piano and musicianship at the Hellenic and Athens Conservatoire in Greece where she graduated with distinction. During the war she attended the seminars at the Institute For The Dissemination of Natural Music, directed by the well-known Byzantologist, Simon Karas and there, became closely acquainted with Greek folk-music. At the end of the war, she won a British Council scholarship to further her musical interests at the University of Oxford where she carried out research into Byzantine music with the late Egon Wellesz.

As a composer she frequently drew her inspiration from Greek folk lore. Many of her compositions, which include the Greek folk-opera “Kleidonas” (The Key), songs, piano pieces and works for instrumental ensembles have been performed on Athens Radio and in public concerts in America, Israel, Ireland and France as well as the United Kingdom. Her cantata “Lazarus” for soloists, chorus and chamber orchestra is based on a folk narration from the Dodecanese, the characteristic point of which describes the events that took place in Lazarus’ life after his resurrection.

Krinió Papastávrou was also a writer of essays, articles on music and philosophy and fiction. A recently completed novel is about to be published in Greece.

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Catalogue of Works

Divertimento for solo viola [BDE 635]
Elegies for piano solo [BDE 1098]
Four Canticles for bass voice & piano [BDE 636]
Greek Carnival for clarinet & piano [BDE 324]
The Key (Kleidonas) An Opera in Three Acts*
Lazarus - Cantata for soli, SATB chorus and orchestra (or organ) [BDE 637]
Little Greek Shepherd for solo flute [BDE 395]
Piháhiroth for flute, clarinet and piano [BDE 1099]
Preludes and Dances for solo piano [BDE 325]
Seven Songs for a Child for voice(s) & harp (piano) [BDE607]
Six Green Folksongs and Dances for voice & guitar [BDE 829]
“Socrates Vinctus” A sacred One-Act Opera quasi Oratorio*
St. Nicholas Suite for flute, viola & harp*
Suite Jubal for solo flute [BDE 220]
Three Mesolonghi Songs for high voice & piano [BDE 638]

*published by International Music Service, 133 West 69th Street, Box 66, New York, NY 10023, USA.