ART EXHIBITION  – DRAWINGS  

“Following the Light”

The exhibition “Following the Light” presents the artistic imprint of French illustrator Clément Thoby during his residency as part of the Festival’s 2024 program. Through exploring the city, discovering the island, its history and landscapes, the artist draws inspiration for a new series of works.

​

His drawings—vivid landscapes captured in colored pencil—reflect his impressions and wanderings. The exhibition will be hosted at the Inn of France, where the works will be presented as large-format photographic prints, magnifying the artist’s gaze and perspective.

​

Artist: Clément Thoby – drawing

 

Venue: Inn of France, Rhodes

Duration: September 29 – October 11, 2025

Time: in the morning 10:00 – 13:00 and in the afternoon 17:00 - 19:30

On Saturday, October 11, the exhibition will be open only in the morning.

​

SCULPTURE EXHIBITION  

 

The exhibition “By Hand and Word – Par la main et les mots” presents small-scale works by Cypriot artist Artemis Antoniou, with themes inspired by Greek tradition and daily life.

​

A similar exhibition was held in April 2017 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, featuring large-scale creations that traveled from Paphos to France. The works displayed then were not only the result of sculptural labor but also embodied a poetic dimension, as they were accompanied by written poetry.

​

The public will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in this artistic world through a unique concert on October 3, where Antoniou’s poetry will meet musical expression, weaving together soundscapes and images in an unprecedented aesthetic experience.

​

Artist: Artemis Antoniou – poetry & sculpture
Venue: Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes
Dates: October 3 – 11, 2025
Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Open daily, except Sunday and Monday.

​​

CONCERTS

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 (free entrance, reservation is needed)

 

Concert: “By Hand and Word – Par la main et les mots”

Artists:

·       Savvas Karantzas, composition

·       Chrysanthos Antoniou, violin

·       Lucie Damianthe, voice

·       Mikrokosmos Choir – octet

·       Artemis Antoniou, sculpture and poetry

 

Musical Program:
The artistic world of Artemis Antoniou meets musical creation in a unique aesthetic experience, where sculpture, poetry, and melody coexist in a creative dialogue.

 

The Mikrokosmos Choir presents a rich polyphonic repertoire, in dialogue with the improvisations of violinist Chrysanthos Antoniou. At the heart of the concert lies a new composition by the composer Savvas Karantzas, written especially for voices and solo improvisational violin, inspired by the poetry of Artemis Antoniou.

 

The music weaves sound textures that highlight the lyricism of the words and converse with the tangible world of the artist’s sculptures, offering the audience a one-of-a-kind aesthetic journey at the crossroads of the arts.

 

Venue: Museum of Modern Greek Art of the Municipality of Rhodes
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Admission: Free, but reservations are mandatory. Reservations can be made online via the Festival’s website: www.festivaleuropeanpolyphony.com

​

Announcement – Rescheduling of the Concert “By Hand and Word – Par la main et les mots” to Saturday, October 4th at 20:00

 

Due to weather conditions, the concert “By Hand and Word – par la main et les mots”, which was scheduled for Friday, October 3rd at 8:00 p.m. at the Museum of Neohellenic Art of the Municipality of Rhodes (new wing), will now take place on Saturday, October 4th at the same time.

Reservations already made remain valid for the new date, and there is also availability for new bookings.

​

​

 Reservation Concert Par la main et les mots - 04/10/2025  - 20:00 ​​​

​​

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2025 (free entrance, reservation is needed)

Concert : Polyphonia - Praise to the Choral Art

​​​

This year’s edition aims to highlight the importance of children’s musical education and polyphonic encounters, through a fertile field of exchange of experiences and ideas. The Festival contributes to the ongoing growth and empowerment of Rhodes’ children’s choirs and their educators.

 

The collaboration with the Edvard Grieg Girls’ Choir offers a unique opportunity for the children of Rhodes’ choirs to express themselves, learn, and create through music. A creative partnership that unites young voices from different countries and traditions, in an evening full of polyphony, surprises, and emotion.

 

Artists:

·       Edvard Grieg Girls’ Choir from Norway, under the artistic direction of Sappho Stavridou

·       Artists and children’s choirs of Rhodes, with a focus on pedagogy and cultivating the new generation:

        o   Children’s Choir of the Municipality of Rhodes, conducted by Giorgos Sakellaridis

        o   Amabile Children’s Choir and the European Music Choir of the Music School of Rhodes, conducted by Michalis Kalaentzis

        o   Archangelos “Saint Savvas” Children’s Choir and the Children’s Choir of the 1st Primary School of Sgourou, conducted by Petros Tsiberopoulos

        o   Children’s Choir Ensemble of the Municipal Conservatory of Rhodes, conducted by Angela Spanou

The children’s choirs and ensembles will be accompanied by musicians: Konstantina Kavouriadou (piano), Dimitris Iosif (piano), Leonidas Sakellaridis (violin), and Oksana Glushkova (cello).

 

Musical Program:
W.A. Mozart, Edvard Grieg, Eric Whitacre, Jan Magne Førde, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Nikos Kypourgos, and more.

 

Venue: Melina Merkouri Medieval Moat Theater, Medieval City of Rhodes
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Admission: Free, no reservations required. The public is advised to arrive 30 minutes before the start of the concert.

​​

​​

A SPECTACULAR MUSIC PARADE

COMPAGNIE TRANSE EXPRESS

The Compagnie Transe Express returns to Rhodes with the dazzling production “Lâcher de Violons / Release of the Violins”, presenting an original and unexpected celestial spectacle that brings joy and wonder to audiences of all ages.

​

Electric sounds of rock meet the poetry of a string quartet and a lyrical singer, combined with the dynamic rhythms of drums, creating a magical experience for the public.

The grand parade will involve over 1,000 primary school students from Rhodes, transforming the city center into a huge celebration of sound, color, and movement. The students will be prepared through music workshops organized by the Festival with the pedagogical team of the Mikrokosmos Choir.

 

SUNDAY 11/10/2025

Arias, percussion, sound, and light in a spectacular parade full of surprises…

Venue: Rhodes' Town Hall, Eleftherias Square

Meeting time: 6:00 p.m.
Parade start time: 7:15 p.m.

​​

​​

MUSICAL AND HISTORICAL WALK ​

Explore the medieval city of Rhodes discovering its hidden history and acoustic.

​

The much-anticipated Musical Walk returns to the Old Town, this year with an innovative combination of music and historical narration. The event features Professor Dr. Spyros Syropoulos alongside the vocal octet of the French choir Mikrokosmos.

 

In a city where civilizations have always coexisted and shaped its cultural identity, history and music come together to bring to life 2,500 years of heritage. Through a unique itinerary, narration and melodies highlight respect for diversity and the richness of human expression, offering an experience of genuine communication and coexistence.

​​

The events will be held in English and Greek.

​

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Medieval City of Rhodes
Meeting point: St. George’s Bastion, Medieval City

Participants:

·       Chœur Mikrokosmos – Octet

·       Dr. Spyros Syropoulos

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Venue: Medieval City of Rhodes
Meeting point: Argyrokastro Square, Medieval City

Participants:

·       Edward Grieg Girls’ Choir, Artistic Director: Sapfo Stavridou

·       Chœur Mikrokosmos – Octet

·       Dr. Spyros Syropoulos

​​

​

MUSIC WORKSHOPS

Free entrance, reservation is needed

​

MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

Designed for young people aged 6-12 and 13-18 years old. Depending on the age group, the appropriate practice and pedagogy are applied.

• Sunday, October 5, 2025 – Chœur de Chambre Mikrokosmos (Octet)

Venue: Inn of France, Rhodes

Time: 10:00 a.m.

​

 Reservation Workshop for young people - 05/10/2024  - 10:00 

​

MUSIC WORKSHOP FOR ADULTS

This immersive workshop is created for amateur and professional musicians interested in living a completely different experience. It aims to offer a musical experience based on vocal art, artistic expression, and collective creation.

​

• Sunday, October 5, 2025 – Chœur de Chambre Mikrokosmos (Octet)

Venue: Inn of France, Rhodes

Time: 11:00 a.m.

​

 Reservation Workshop for adults - 05/10/2025  - 11:00 

​​

​

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

​

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS
Wednesday, October 1 – Thursday, October 9, 2025

​

The educational programmes and music workshops of the Festival of European Polyphony are dedicated to fostering and promoting music among young people aged 6–18.

 

This seventh edition will devote a significant part of its workshops to children aged 6–12. Through dozens of interactive music workshops held in the primary schools of Rhodes, we will reach more than 1,000 children. Students will discover the human voice and polyphony, working closely with the experienced team of musicians from the French choir Mikrokosmos.

 

These activities also aim to prepare the children for their participation in the festival’s closing outdoor performance with the Compagnie Transe Express, where they will join the artists in a shared song, creating a unique moment of collective expression.

​​​

 

CINEMA – SCREENINGS  ​

​

Screenings of Documentaries and Short Films

A documentary and a fiction film produced by the European Polyphony Festival, directed by associated artists.

 

“The Art of Movement” (2025), Olympia Gauguet

A documentary exploring disability and accessibility through artistic creation. It follows a composer with disability as he creates a composition for a renowned choir. The film highlights the challenges, inspirations, and power of music as a driving force, while celebrating collective strength and the pursuit of artistic expression without boundaries.

 

“Sancho” (2024), Gabriel Mirété

A dystopian short film, inspired by and filmed on the island of Rhodes, featuring the characters Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. The film won the Fiction Prize at the Frames Festival, sponsored by the Société des Auteurs Compositeurs Dramatiques.

​

Venue: Available online through the official website of the Festival: www.festivaleuropeanpolyphony.com

​

​​​​