Interview with Andreas Deligiannis

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In an interview with Andreas Deligiannis for the newspaper Έθνος published on 18 January 1968, composer Yorgos Sicilianos discussed the current state of contemporary music and his views on its reception by the public. Sicilianos highlighted that while international audiences are beginning to show interest in contemporary music, there are still significant reservations, much like the criticisms faced by past composers such as Beethoven and Bach. He acknowledged that the newness of contemporary music, which began to gain prominence only around 1950, contributes to its mixed reception. According to Sicilianos, the passage of time is crucial for the public to differentiate between genuine contemporary music and less substantial works.

Sicilianos also addressed various forms of contemporary music, expressing scepticism about the “music of chance” and its reliance on randomness, which he finds unacceptable for a structured art form. He expressed interest in electronic music, despite not having had the opportunity to experiment with it, and pointed out its limitation in lacking the element of live performance. Regarding the Greek audience, Sicilianos stressed the need for educational efforts to familiarise the public with contemporary music. He advocated for the role of radio in introducing new musical trends and called for the creation of more orchestras specialising in different genres. Sicilianos also emphasised the importance of state support in commissioning new works to promote contemporary music and expand its repertoire.

In April, the Asman Quartet from Germany will perform his new work Quartet No. 4 for strings in Athens, and around the same time, there is a possibility that his Cello Concerto will be performed in Geneva by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, with the Argentine artist Aurora Natola as the soloist.