Curriculum Vitae
Theodorakis Ermis
Pianist
Ermis Theodorakis was born in Athens, Greece in 1979. He began his piano studies in 1990 with Nilyan Perez-Ioannidis and in January 1996 he obtained his Piano Diploma at the Athens Music Society Conservatory along with a unanimous award of a First Prize and of a special “Iannis Xenakis” prize, for his interpretation of the work “Mists”. He also studied composition with Yannis Ioannidis (Composition Diploma in 2002) and Musicology at the University of Athens (Degree in 2004). From September 2002 he followed post-graduate piano studies with Håkon Austbö (master program) at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, from where he graduated in May 2004 with Distinction. He studied further composition with Wim Henderickx at the same conservatory (Diploma in 2006) and afterwards at the Musical Academy of Leipzig with Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf (Post-Graduate Diploma in May 2009 with Distinction).
Ermis Theodorakis has performed as a soloist in various Greek and German cities (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Hamburg, Lübeck, Heilbronn) and in several other countries (Holland, Cyprus, Austria, France, Luxemburg, UK, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Albania, Ghana, Chile, USA). He has also collaborated as a soloist with orchestras and ensembles, such as the Athens State Orchestra, the Orchestra of Colours, the “Kamerata” Orchestra, the AGON Orchestra of Prague, the Greek Contemporary Music Ensemble, the „United Instruments of Lucilin“ (Luxemburg), the MDR Woodwind Quintet (Leipzig).
He attaches emphasis on the interpretation of contemporary music (giving the first performances of many works by contemporary composers), but he also interprets some important pieces of the classical repertoire, such as Beethoven’s Sonata Op.106 and Brahms’ 3rd Sonata.
He has recorded 7 solo CDs of contemporary piano music (most of the New Viennese School piano music, piano works by Yannis Ioannidis – Vol. 1&2, the complete piano solo works by Iannis Xenakis, piano pieces by various Greek composers – Vol.1&2, the complete works for solo piano and piano duo by Y. Sicilianos, together with the pianist Daniël Kramer.). He has also recorded Xenakis’ piano concerto “Synaphaï” with the Orchestra of Colours.
As a composer, he has written chamber music and solo pieces. His works have been performed in Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium and Chile.
Ermis Theodorakis has been awarded a prize by the Greek Union of Music and Drama Critics, for his recording of the complete piano solo works by Iannis Xenakis, and a UNESCO prize for his services to Greek Contemporary music.
In January 2006 he obtained two prizes (SACEM prize and Special Mention A. Boucourechliev) at the 7th International 20th Century Piano Competition in Orleans (France). In November 2008 he was visiting professor at the Composition Department of the University of Chile in Santiago.
Iannis Xenakis, in a recommendation letter for Ermis Theodorakis, has stated that he considers him an ideal interpreter of his music.
Repertoire
ALEXIS AGRAFIOTIS: Kammerkonzert (1994) (piano and chamber orchestra – 12 players)
MINAS BORBOUDAKIS: Concerto for piano, string orchestra, harp and percussion (2000)
DIMITRIS DRAGATAKIS: Piano Concerto (1977)
CLAUS-STEFFEN MAHNKOPF: Kammerkonzert (1995)(piano and chamber orchestra – 6 players)
Prospero's Epilogue (2004)(piano and orchestra)
OLIVIER MESSIAEN: Oiseaux Exotiques (1955-56)
SERGEI PROKOFIEV: Piano Concerto no.3 (1921)
MAURICE RAVEL: Piano Concerto no.2 (1929-30)
ARNOLD SCHOENBERG: Piano Concerto (1942)
YORGO SICILIANOS: Piano Concerto (1989)
IGOR STRAVINSKY: Concerto for piano and wind instruments (1923-24)
IANNIS XENAKIS: Eonta (1964-65)(piano and 5 brass)
Synaphaï (1969)(piano and orchestra)
Keqrops (1985)(piano and orchestra)