Concert Pianist
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Biography
Outstanding Greek virtuoso acclaimed as “the most celebrated champion of prominent Greek modernist composers such as Skalkottas and Mitropoulos” (American Record Guide).
For her enduring commitment and determination to premiering important music, such as the monumental Third Piano Concerto by Nikos Skalkottas in 2003, in Paris, she received The Hellenic Music Award by The National Council of Music/Unesco.
Born in 1953 in Istanbul, she has given performances worldwide since her debut at the age of sixteen. She has appeared as soloist with eminent orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic, the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Salzburg- Mozarteum Orchestra, the London Festival Orchestra, , the Lithuanian State Orchestra, Orchestre National de Montpellier, The Moscow Virtuosi, the Sofia Philharmonic, and has toured performing in major venues of European cities, Latin America, throughout Russia and the former Soviet Republics. She has collaborated with conductors of great distinction such as Giancarlo Andretta, Matthias Bamert, Hans Graf, John Georgiadis, Philippe Entremont, Miltiadis Karydis, Jakob Kowalski, Alexander Lazarev, Christian Mandeal, Alexander Myrat, Vladimir Spivakov, and Friedemann Layer. She has been presented on radio and television live concert broadcasts by the Hellenic Radio and Television - ERT, Radio Educacion, Radio UNAM Mexico, Radio France, France Musique, WGBH Boston, and BBC Three.
Her discography with Naxos, Universal/Decca, Agorá Musica, Philips, Polygram, Millenium Archives, EMI Classics, Lyra, has won critical acclaim in the international press for her recordings of Mendelssohn’s Three Piano Concerti, Sicilianos’ Piano Concerto, Skalkottas’s Piano Concerti, Cimarosa’s 62 Sonatas, Brahms Opus 116, 117 118 &119, Dimitri Mitropoulos’ Piano Works, Manos Hadjidakis’ Piano works and other of her albums. She was the recipient of the Recording Award 2000, by The Union of Greek Theater & Music Critics.
She graduated with the highest honor Golden Medal from the Athens Conservatory and as a scholarship student she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Music at The Juilliard School of Music in New York, where her principal teacher and mentor was the legendary Jacob Lateiner. In addition to receiving the Isabella Vengerova legacy from Lateiner, she received tutoring from Ivan Moravec and Nina Svetlanova, student of Heinrich Neuhaus.
Hailed as an extraordinary musician of penetrating insight, her playing is characterized by an arresting rhythmic buoyancy, clarity, exuberance, as well as communicative power.
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NIKOS SKALKOTTAS:
Concertino for Piano. & 3d Concerto for Piano.
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JOHANNES BRAHMS:
Piano Works. op. 116, 117, 118 & 119.
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THANOS MIKROUTSIKOS:
“Dance and memories”, Piano Works.
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FELIX MENDELSSOHN:
The Three (3) Piano Concerti
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YORGOS SISILIANOS:
Concerto for piano and Orchestra (1992)
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DOMENICO CIMAROSA:
The 62 Piano Sonatas,
COMPLETE EDITION
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DIMITRIS MITROPOULOS: Piano Works &
(PREMIČRE) & N.
SKALKOTTAS 3 Pieces
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MANOS HADJIDAKIS: The Piano Works
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COMPOSIZIONI da CAMERA:
Christophoros STAMBOGLIS, bass, Danae KARA, piano
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"PIANO GEMS"
Danae Kara, piano
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MANOLIS KALOMIRIS: "EVENING LEGENDS"
For voice and piano, Markela HATZIANO, mezzo, Danae KARA, piano
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DANAE KARA plays: MANUEL De FALLA & MIKIS THEODORAKIS
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Greek Composers
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KYRIAKOS SFETSAS: "SUNSTREAM" 12 pieces for piano.
· Since the late Gina Bachauer there has been no other greek virtuoso on the international scene. With Danae Kara this has changed. " GENERAL ANZEIGER
· "She has a dashing virtuosity, of manly character which is sprung from endless power reserves" ...equipped with a glittering arsenal of pianism she recreates the compositions she interprets... ...the public responded with the warmest ovation" BONNER RUNDSCHAU
· "...An authentic pianistic talent of a rare communicative power... high virtuosity flying to dizzy heights rewarding one with glorious sonorities... she speaks straight to the heart... " NOUVELLE REVUE DE LAUSANNE
· "...Kara has demonstrated a rare and original musical personality giving the most unusual and powerful interpretations..." UNO NAS UNO
· "A unique artist and an admirable pianist..." NOVEDADES
· "a volcanic "piano tiger" combining the contrasting attributes of extreme sensitivity and impetuosity of an endless energy..." NEUE ZEITUNG
· "...Kara belongs to that rare league of artists where noble sincerity imposes itself against all theatricality’s. There were infinite variety of nuances in her discovery of every inner and intimate of each composer's intention. Her original version of well known music is startling as well as persuasive through constant musicality of the highest order... " L' EST ECLAIR
· "...with an arresting originality... a flamboyant technique caused that frenzy of applause". TIROLER TAGESZEITUNG
· "...she has the most remarkable range of nuances from whisper to an almost demonic display of pianistic bravura never loosing control and with such natural ease away from all artificiality’s". L ' UNION
· "...played with exceptional limpidity and exactitude marvelously conveying al/ the nuances of the frightfully demanding Liszt-Verdi score. Her playing is of incredible power and technical mastery". THE ATHENIAN
· "...we were in the presence of an exceptional artist with an inner passion for delivering a message through meaningful interpretations". LlBERATION
· "...technical brilliance... graceful... fascinating interpretation..." NORD BAYERISCHER KURIER
· "...her interpretation of Mephisto Waltz was a real spiritual waterfall a powerful generator of ideas, images, meditative thoughts. her introspective nature and amazing virtuosity contribute to a highly exciting performance... the audience was deeply moved... " KATHIMERINI
· "...rare
combination of tempered virtuosity and refined sensibility... giving an
urgency and vision lacking in most of her generation's pianists... "
DAVID DIAMOND