The Archon Maestor of the G.C.C. (Great Church of Christ) Gregory A. Daravanoglou is a performer of international fame with innumerable public appearances - both on radio and television, as well as at various concert halls within Greece as well as internationally. He was born in Constantinople and was taught the psaltic art at the Patriarchate. In 1978 he traveled to the U.S.A. after being invited by then Archbishop of North and South America his Eminence Iakovos, with the patriarchal title domestikos. There, Daravanoglou gave Byzantine music lessons to youngsters, founded and directed choirs consisting of Greek students at Brown and later at Harvard universities. In 1982 Daravanoglou settled in Greece. He has since chanted at many churches both within and without Greece and has been invited to chant at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in Canada, England, Italy, Cyprus and various other countries. He has collaborated with the composer Christodoulos Chalaris, with Petros Tampouris on the album Mismagia and with Eleni Arvanitaki. On the 29 May 1998 he appeared on ET-1 on Dimitra Gountouna's hour-long show "Opos Mas Aresei" ("As we like it"), where he performed songs from Constantinople - solo - with a children's choir, as well as with traditional instrumental accompaniment and met with much acclaim. On the 24th of May 2000, he appeared together with George Dalaras at the Ancient Municipal Theatre of Nea Ionia, Volos, where they sang songs from Asia Minor in a performance entitled "Ealo Polis", organized by the city's municipality. On the 12th of November 2000, he was invited by the University of Atlanta, U.S.A to perform a concert consisting of Byzantine hymns and songs from Constantinople, which was very well received and met with significant commendation. In January 2001, he appeared at the Athens Concert Hall with George Dalaras in a concert entitled "Oti kai an po, de se ksehno" ("Whatever I say, I don't forget you"), dedicated to the late Basil Tsitsanis. His performance was considered by the press to be the climax of the concert which received many positive reviews. He has released a number of records, cassettes and CDs with Byzantine hymns and songs. He is currently the protopsaltis at the Holy Temple of St. Nicholas, Piraeus. He is the founder and choirmaster of a multi-member byzantine choir which bears his name. Occasionally, he has also directed the choir of the Association of Constantinopolitan Friends of Music. On Sunday the 25 January 2009, on the festival of St. Gregory the Theologian during the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Temple of St. Nicholas, Piraeus, Daravanoglou was honored with the highest office attainable for a chanter -- that of the Archon Maestor of the G.C.C. (Άρχων Μαΐστωρ της Μ.Χ.Ε). This was celebrated, upon the venerable command of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, by His Eminence Seraphim of Piraeus who performed the Divine Liturgy.
7 сен 2024
