Artists

Athens Quintet "D. Dounis" (Greece)

Athens Quintet "Dimitrios Dounis" was founded in honor of one of the greatest mandolin virtuosos.

A member of the prominent "Athenian Mandolinata" of Nicolaos Lavdas at the beginning of the 20th century, Dimitrios Dounis became internationally known as one of the most important violin teachers due to his innovative teaching methods. Less well known, however, is his activity as a mandolin soloist, which allowed him to play major tours in USA and Europe, using always a pseudonym, so that he could not be recognized as the already famous violin teacher.

In 2010, Athens Quintet performed at Bergamo (sala Locatelli) and Cremona (teatro filodramatici) in Italy, honoring "Athenian Mandolinata" and its conductor on the occasion of the centenary of its award-winning performance in the same town. The Quintet has also given concerts at F. Nakkas and Athenaeum conservatories, the Philarmonic Society of Patras Conservatory and "C. Palamas" Hall of Athens University.

In 2013 they participated in the recording of an album entitled "Greek Rhapsody" (to be released) with selected works of Greek composers, in a co-production with Orchestra di mandolini e chitarre "Citta di Brescia", Athenian Mandolinata "N. Lavdas" and orchestra leaders Claudio Mandonico and Ugo Orlandi.

Beyond an authentic classical repertoire, Athens Quintet "D. Dounis" aspires to contribute to the promotion of the history of plucked string instruments (mandolin, mandola, mandocello, guitar), by encouraging and promoting the creation of contemporary works.

Giorgos Goumenakis, mandolin
Michalis Sidiropoulos, mandolin
Giannis Goumenakis, mandola
Giorgos Theodoropoulos, mandocello
Vassiliki Leondaris, guitar

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