ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS & The [uncertain] Four Seasons Landmark International Project launches with Classical Concert on Historic Greek Island

On 30 May, the emblematic Greek island of Delos -the cosmopolitan centre of the Mediterranean in antiquity, now an open museum- comes to life again! This date will mark the official launch of ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS. A collective initiative that combines the strengths of Mythology, Art and Space Technology to raise awareness globally about the urgent need for the regeneration of our planet.

For the first time in its thousands of years of history, Delos welcomes a classical music orchestra for a broadcast concert of an international scope and great symbolic value. The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO), together with Ukrainian & Russian musicians, and soloists the Ukrainian born rising star Diana Tishchenko (violin) and Greek virtuoso Sokratis Sinopoulos (lyra) will perform the concert entitled “The [uncertain] Four Seasons”, a concert especially created to underscore the uncertainty about the future of our planet if we do not act urgently.

The concert will be live-streamed (19:30 CET) on ARTE, on the social-media platforms of Cultural and Technological institutions, and projected live onto big screens in Megaron the Athens Concert Hall and various European cities. It will additionally be broadcast on ARTE’s Sunday TV concert on 5 June -17.25 (CET) in Germany and 18.25 (CET) in France. The concert will be available on arte.tv from 30th May until end of August and will then travel around the world. The event also marks the 30th anniversary of ARTE, the important European cultural channel, symbol of Franco-German friendship.

The ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS concert is a co-production of the World Human Forum & ARTE in partnership with Europa Nostra, the Hellenic Space Center, the National Research Center for Natural Sciences “Demokritos”, the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Megaron the Athens Concert Hall – and in collaboration with the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades. The EUYO is artistic partner of the event.

Further information:

ALPHA MISSION – ΔELOS in a nutshell: NASA’s ARTEMIS MISSION will take the first woman to the Moon by 2025, following the APOLLO MISSION which took the first man to the moon in 1969.

Delos is the island where, according to the myth, the twin gods Apollo and Artemis were born, and where light was born. For many centuries in antiquity, Delos was the cosmopolitan centre of the Mediterranean. Today, the whole island is an open museum and the ancient ruins on it are already affected by the climate crisis and rising sea level. Parallel to our quest to explore space, Delos -and the events connected to it- will be emblematic reminders that wings also need roots and that the healing of our planet should be a priority. NASA’s Artemis Mission, following the Apollo Mission, gives us the unique opportunity to understand that Humanity will not succeed in addressing the challenges we face unless we combine the wisdom of the past with the knowledge and possibilities of today, humanities with science, mythology, art and spirituality with space and technology.

The program consists of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, improvised episodes for Lyra, Carmen Fizzarotti’s Floating Autumn from “The [uncertain] Four Seasons” and Marshall Marcus’ 17 Strokes of the Bell for Peace and Sustainability.

The EUYO will be welcomed by the lyra, the modern continuation of Apollo’s instrument with a 3000-year history that will masterfully intertwine with the work of Vivaldi and the concert’s contemporary composers.

Carmen Fizzarotti’s Floating Autumn from  The [uncertain] Four Seasons, is an algorithmic re-composition of Vivaldi’s ‘Autumn’. Developed by composers, musicians, climate and computer scientists using geospatial climate predictions for 2050, it depicts what a future world might feel like if we do not reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The [Uncertain] Four Seasons is an initiative of AKQA and Jung von Matt, composer Hugh Crosthwaite, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Monash Climate Change Communications Research Hub.

The European Union Youth Orchestra, cultural ambassador for the European Union, represents the European ideal of a community working together to achieve peace and social understanding. Founded in 1976 by Lionel and Joy Bryer following a unanimous vote of the European Parliament, with Maestro Claudio Abbado as its Founding Music Director, it brings together the most talented young musicians from all EU member states united by a shared sense of European heritage, innovation, sustainability, and the constant pursuit of excellence. Together with Russian and Ukrainian musicians it represents the voice of the youth of Europe. The EUYO’s Honorary President is the President of the European Parliament and its Honorary Patrons are the Heads of State and Prime Ministers of each of the EU member states, headed by the President of the European Commission.

The soloist, violinist Diana Tishchenko, of Ukrainian origin, is amongst the most exciting young artists of recent years and has won several international competitions for her musicality and technical mastery, and posseses musical imagination far beyond her years. She has been a guest on major international concert stages.

Greek musician Sokratis Sinopoulos is a contemporary master of the lyra, a bowed instrument that dates back to ancient times. His playing is delicate and nuanced yet highly expressive, and his proficiency on the instrument has been widely acclaimed. Sinopoulos has collaborated with numerous musicians throughout the world. He is equally comfortable crossing genre boundaries into jazz and classical, as he is to staying true to folk traditions of Greece and Eastern Mediterranean.