Wednesday, July 15, 2026, 9:00 PM
Venetian Fortress KAZARMA, Sitia
Free admission
The Istos Choir (İstos Korosu) from Istanbul is currently in Sitia and, under the direction of Foteini Kokkala and with the guidance of Eirini Derembei in the Cretan repertoire, is preparing for a unique concert dedicated to the power of oral tradition. Although most of the choir members are Turkish-speaking, at the Kazarma concert they will sing in Greek, in a meeting of people, languages, and cultures.
Featuring
- Eirini Derembei – politiko laouto
- Karolos Kouklakis – boulgari
- Foteini Kokkala – kanun
- Ali Agri – oud
From mouth to mouth and from place to place
Through orality, exchange, and human interaction, folk poetry melodically and stylistically intertwines with culture and civilization, offering musical gems that we love to discover.
The Istos Choir – İstos Korosu was founded in 2017 in Istanbul, within the framework of the İstos publishing and cultural organization, with musician Foteini Kokkala as conductor. It consists mainly of Turkish-speaking residents of Istanbul, who approach the Greek language and musical tradition through song. Its repertoire includes rebetika, Asia Minor, politiko, and traditional songs from different regions of Greece, as well as multilingual melodies from Anatolia. The special value of İstos Korosu lies in the fact that people, the majority of whom are not of Greek origin, sing in Greek, and song becomes a means of acquaintance, coexistence, and communication between the two peoples.
Organization: Stegi VITSENTZOS KORNAROS
With the support of the Municipality of Sitia