Christos Hatzis

Christos Hatzis (born 1953) is a Greek Canadian composer currently a professor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto.

Biography

Hatzis was born in Volos, Greece and received his early music instruction at the Volos branch of the Hellenic Conservatory. He continued his musical studies in the United States, first at the Eastman School of Music (B.M 1976 and M.M 1977) and later at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (Ph.D. 1982). He immigrated to Canada in 1982 and became a Canadian citizen in 1985. Hailed as "one of the most important composers in Canada" (International Musician), he is now an internationally renowned composer, being the recipient of awards such as Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award (1998),^[1] (Governor General) Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music (1996)^[2] and two Juno Awards in 2006.^[3][4] and 2008^[5]

His work Constantinople was critically acclaimed and has been performed internationally. It combined music and visual media and is musically eclectic, featuring jazz, classical, and eastern elements. Performed at sold-out halls at Banff and Toronto during the summer and fall of 2004, it has been described as "A multimedia feast of the imagination...a work unlike any other in the Canadian musical literature" (Toronto Star) and "a stunning theatrical triumph" (Calgary Harold).^[6]

Hatzis' music is inspired by Christian spirituality, particularly his Byzantine heritage, and the Canadian Inuit culture. In addition to composing and teaching, Hatzis has written extensively about composition and contemporary music.

Currently, he is working on an opera with libretto from writer Margaret Atwood titled "Pauline". It is based on Pauline Johnson, a Canadian writer and poet, and is the first commission ever undertaken by City Opera Vancouver.^[7] Other projects include a commission from violinist Hillary Hahn, a piece for bass clarinet, string orchestra and audio playback commissioned by Jeff Reilly, and a new work based on poems by Elizabeth Bishop, commissioned by soprano Suzie Leblanc and Symphony Nova Scotia. On November 12, 2010, Hatzis' piece Credo will be performed by George Dalaras, a popular Greek singer, and CityMusic Cleveland Orchestra in Avery Fisher Hall in New York.^[8]

His composition teachers include Morton Feldman, Lejaren Hiller, Wlodzimierz Kotonski, Samuel Adler, Russell Peck, Joseph Schwantner and Warren Benson.

He is a member of the Canadian Music Centre.^[9]

His works are published by Promethean Editions.

Compositions

Orchestra

• Credo (2010)
• Redemption: Book 1 (2009)
• Mirage? (2009)
• Tongues of Fire (2007)
• Rebirth (2006)
• Telluric Dances (2005)
• Christos Anesti (2004)
• Sepulcher of Life (2004)
• K 627: Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F Major in the Spirit of W. A. Mozart (2003)
• Light from the Cross (2002)
• Pyrrichean Dances (2001)
• From the Book of Job (2001)
• Farewell to Bach (1998)
• Confessional (1997)
• Zeitgeist, (1996)
• Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra (1993)
• The Gouldberg Variations, 1992
• Mortiferum Fel, (1985–1990)
• Omen, (1985)

Choral

• Mysterion Xenon (2012)
• Psalm 91 (2008)
• From the Song of Songs (2008)
• WATER (2008)
• Easter Kontakion (2007)
• Wormwood (2005)
• Four Rituals for Percussion Quintet, Choir and Audience (2004)
• The Troparion of Kassiani (2004)
• Sepulcher of Life (2004)
• LIGHT (Arctic Dreams 2) (2003)
• Everlasting Light (1999)
• De Angelis (1999)
• Kyrie (1997)
• Heirmos (1994)

Chamber

• Symbol of Faith (2009)
• Coming To (2009) - For Hillary Hahn
• Dystopia (2009) - For Hillary Hahn
• Anaktoria (1990 rev. 2009)
• Arabesque (2009)
• Afterthoughts 2 (2007)
• Lazy Afternoons by the Lake (2007)
• Mystical Visitations (2006)
• Through a Glass Darkly (2005)
• Cruel Elegance (2004) - For the St. Lawrence Quartet
• Four Rituals for Percussion Quintet, Choir and Audience (2004) - For NEXUS
• Parlor Music (2004) - For Beverley Johnston and the Amici Trio
• Afterthoughts 1 (2002)
• Constantinople (2000) - For the Gryphon Trio
• String Quartet No. 2 (The Gathering) (1999) - For the St. Lawrence Quartet
• Melisma (1995) - Commissioned by Jean-Guy Boisvert
• Three Songs on poems by Sappho (1993)
• Burial Ground (In Memoriam: Chari Polatos) (1993) - Commissioned by the Fifth Species woodwind quintet
• Erotikos Logos (1991)
• Stylus (1990) - Commissioned by Peter Hannan, Douglas Perry and Joseph Petric
• On Cerebral Dominance (1987)
• Arcana (1983) - Commissioned by Arraymusic

Mixed Media

• In the Fire of Conflict (2008)
• LIGHT (Arctic Dreams 2) (2003)
• Arctic Dreams 1 (2002)
• Constantinople (2000)
• Fertility Rites (1997) - Commissioned by Beverley Johnston
• Tetragrammaton (1995) - Commissioned by Anne-Marie Donovan
• String Quartet No. 1 (The Awakening) (1994) - Commissioned by the Smith Quartet
• Of Threads and Labyrinths (1994) - Commissioned by Soundstreams Canada for Lawrence Cherney and Erica Goodman
• From the Vanishing Gardens of Eden (1992) - Commissioned by CBC Radio
• Byzantium (1991) - Commissioned by the Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company
• The Birth of Venus (1990) - Commissioned by Robert Black
• The Mega4 Meta4 (1990) - Douglas Perry
• Pavillons En l' Air (1989) - Commissioned by CBC Radio for Scott Irvine and Beverley Johnston
• Orbiting Garden (1989) - Commissioned by the Music Gallery for Anthony de Mare
• Orbiting Garden (1991) - Commissioned by the Laidlaw Foundation accordion version for Joseph Petric
• Crucifix (1988)
• Nadir (1988) - Commissioned by the Canadian Electronic Ensemble for Peter Hannan and Rivka Golani
• Equivoque (1985) - Commissioned by Joseph Petric

Radiophonic

• Viderunt Omnes (1998)
• Footprints in New Snow (1996)
• The Idea of Canada (1992)
• The Temptation of St. Anthony (1987)

References

External links

• www.hatzis.com (Composer's website)