Schneemann & Friends

About

Schneemann & Friends is an international ensemble built around a shared love for Greek music and the legacy of composer Mikis Theodorakis. The project is a personal one: oboist Bart Schneemann and pianist Julian Schneemann, father and son, gathered a circle of like minded musicians from around the world to bring it to life. The group draws on classical music, jazz, and folk traditions from many different cultures, and the instruments they play reflect that range, from Turkish ney and Greek bouzouki to Italian organetto. Their concert format, called Tribute to Theodorakis, recreates the atmosphere of a Greek taverna, complete with a life size film projection of a taverna in Piraeus, a place Theodorakis himself frequented. Greek singer Vasilis Lekkas, one of the foremost interpreters of the Theodorakis repertoire, performs with the ensemble, as does a local choir that joins each night and gives every performance its own character. The show blurs the line between past and present, here and elsewhere, weaving historical footage of Theodorakis together with live music.