Christos Pittas: Composer

Born in Alexandria on 2 November 1945 , he was brought up in Cyprus where he was father was from. He studied music at the National Odeon
(Nicosia branch) and got his degree in violin in 1962. It was the first time he presented his own compositions: Rhapsody for violin and piano, Ode to the foreman, Four songs for baritone and piano . He continued his music studies in England , where he lives since 1970. During the 70s, a time of soul searching and musical questioning, he worked as a composer in the Drama Department of the BBC. He composed around 60 music pieces for musical, theatrical and poetical productions of the BBC. These experiences were enriched with collaborations with Greek theatrical teams in productions of ancient tragedy, namely with Aspasias Papathanasiou's team "Desmoi", the Public Experimental theatre, the State Theatre of Northern Greece and others.

He believes that he owes the development of his music to the theatre and some poets, since in the texts of Aeschylus, Euripedes, Sophocles, Beget and Harrison he found forms, reasons and stimuli that guided his musical questioning.

In 2000 the Orchestra Chromaton presented his work Eleni - for an empty shirt, in the dedication for the 100 years since Seferis' birth.

List of works 1970-2003

Epitaph (G.Ritsos) for one actress and small orchestra

Idols Suite - Concerto for 14 musicians

Sybil (A.Sikelianos) Musical drama act for 2 actors, tenor, chorus and orchestra

Synthesi (Composition) for 3 percussion musicians and 2 clarinets

AG (Aeschylus/G.Josipovici) for tenor, male chorus and orchestra

Isola di Elba (V.Vasilikou) for mezzo soprano and orchestra

Faust (Gaite) for 2 singers, one actress/soprano, child chorus, church organ and orchestra

Heli-Om for 2 dancers, vocal part, percussions and electronic sound track

Osper Onar for string orchestra

Lumen tristis (P.Papangelou) for mezzo soprano, tenor and small music ensemble

Hamathen poetical symphony(P.Papangelou) for tenor, baritone, female chorus and orchestra

Spring (inspired by a tale of M.Pondika) dance drama act for 2 dancers, 2 musicians (violin, violencello) and electronic soundtrack

Antigone (Sophocles) musical dance drama act for 2 actors (dancers), one baritone, 3 musicians (clarinet, cello, percussion) and electronic soundtrack

Six cycles of songs

Patridografia (Homeland) (poetry by P.Matesi)

1973 (poetry V.Vasilikou, M.Pondika, C.Pitta)

Erotica (Erotic) (poetry by T.Andoniou)

Marabou-Pousi-Traverso (poetry by N.Kavvadia)

Circle with poem by Varnali, Seferi, theochari, Stachtouri, Karopouli

Circle with poems by T.S.Elliot, Sophy Hanna, Christine Furnival, P.B. Ellis

Theatrical Music

Around 70 partitions for the BBC, the Public Experimental Theatre, the State Theatre of Northern Greece, THOC.