j   

The Kelsos Ensemble is one of the most famous Early Music groups in Greece . It has made over 150 presentations in concert halls, recordings, TV and radio productions. As for the group's name it was inspired by Kelsos Street where the Ensemble started it's rehearsals and general activity.

It was formed in 1989 to study and perform the 16th-18th century music, which historically belongs to the Renaissance and the Baroque period.

The repertoire, covering the period of 16 th -17 th centuries (Renaissance, Baroque) is based on historical editions of vocal and instrumental chamber music (sonatas, canzonas, concertos), theatre music, dance and festive suites written for special historical events.

Kelsos Ensemble creates an atmosphere of mental euphoria and spiritual calmness, transporting the listener to ages when live music was a tool of contemplation and a vital part of the people's life.

The members of the Ensemble are musicians highly specialized in the interpretation of Early Music, with historical wind and string instruments such as the recorders, the theorbo and the viol.

               ÍIKOS NIKOLAIDES                recorders

               MECHTHILD STARK                 recorders

               MANOS AVARAKIS                  recorders    

               STAVROS KATIRTZOGLOU      theorbe

               HELGA GIANNOULAS               viola da gamba

The cultural events at the Ensemble's appearances are designed and presented bye the sculptor Ioanna Omorfopoulou .

The musical instruments, faithful reproductions of the originals, are recorders , theorbe and viola da gamba

The music is derived from historical publications of that era and includes room compositions ( sonatas , canzonas , concertos ), theatrical play music, dance and celebration suites dedicated to historical and artistic events such as:

The marriages of the Despot of Mystra Theodor Paleologos II to Cleopha Malatesta of Rimini (1420, marriage motet by G . Dufay ),

The naval battle of Naupactos (1571),

Elisabeth I of England and the Spanish Armada (1588),

Theatrical plays of Molieros (1670, J - B Lully , ìïõóéêÞ ãéá ôïí Áñ÷ïíôï÷ùñéÜôç ), and Shakespeare (1601), Masks with music by H . Purcell (1692-1695, “ Diocletian ”, “Fairy Queen” ) etc.

The music is accompanied by a slideshow including the era's most important art creations in painting, sculpture and architecture by masters such as:

Bruegel , Van der Weiden , Della Francesca , Alberti , Brunellesqui , D u rer , Leonardo , Veronese , Tissiano ,El Greco, Damaskinos,, Rembrandt , Vermeer , Caravaggio , Poussin ,De Latour , Wren , Lelly êá .

Before each musical chapter takes place a short introduction to the composer, the country as well as the most important intellectual and artistic events of the era at hand, along with the history of Greek culture through gravures, paintings and historical texts

As of the Ensemble's name, is due to the name of the street in Athens (after the Greec Epicurian philosopher Kelsos or Celsus), where the actual members first met 16 years ago!

In addition to its large repertoire of Early Music, Ensemble Kelsos performs contemporary music of greek composers such as Manos Hadjidakis , arranged in the renaissance style for the historical instruments.

This part, entitled “Like Early Music”, has been repeatedly broadcasted in the Third Program of ERA and in television (ET1, NET).