La Lyra del Mar

What happens when musicians from various countries around the Mediterranean Sea take each other on journeys in through their respective centuries-old musical traditions?  

The Cello Biennial Amsterdam and Dutch Flamenco Biennial are bringing together phenomenal musicians from the Mediterranean. Sicilian cellist Giovanni Sollima and Maya Fridman join up with female Cretan lyra player Kelly Thoma and Spanish flamenco guitarist Dani de Morón for an adventurous musical journey. This amazing quartet will be joined by the rhythms of Greek and Spanish feet by one of the best Cretan dancers Thanasis Mavrokostas and rising Spanish talent Julio Ruiz. Acclaimed percussionist Agustin Diassera unites their worlds with his subtle percussion.  

What do the Mediterranean countries have in common? For starters, the sea, harbours, merchant ships, centuries-old folk melodies, virtuosity, and musicality. But they’re all different! Apollo and Dionysus unite in a unique Greek-Italian-Spanish tour de force through the Mediterranean where the Spanish guitar, classical cello meet the lyra – a pear-shaped Cretan knee fiddle that evolved from the classical Byzantine lyra. Southern strings stir up in pulsing rhythms, their melodies tell us timeless musical stories.