Iakovos Kolanian, an internationally well-known guitarist, with numerous performances in Greece and abroad, ranks amongst the most prominent artists of his generation. Always attended with interest by the public, his interpretations, driven by vision and faith, often consist a bridge between “classical” music and the musics of the world.
Iakovos Kolanian studied classical guitar with Evangelos Assimakopoulos at the National Conservatory of Athens. He graduated in 1985, awarded with the first prize and special honors for exceptional performance. Whereas later, he broadened his knowledge, by attending various seminars in Greece and abroad.
He started his musical journey by giving individual recitals in many cities in Greece, and on television and radio programs. He has also performed as a soloist with almost all greek symphonic orchestras (Athens State Orchestra, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra of Greek Broadcasting Corporation, the Orchestra of Colours, the Camerata Orchestra of Athens etc.)
Presenting his first album in 1989, with his own transcriptions of Armenian popular music, I. Kolanian toured in England, France, Italy, Austria etc., while at the same time he showed up on BBC, Radio France, the Austrian Television (ORF). His collaboration with the Symphonic Orchestra of Armenia and its conductor Loris Tjeknavorian resulted in the recording of “Zarhe”, a concert for guitar and orchestra, and the release of a CD - with the composer himself as the conductor - which I. Kolanian has presented in various cities all over the world.
In 2002, a new CD was released by “Eros Music”, with J. S. Bach Lute Suites, transcripted for guitar, for the first time in Greece, by Kolanian himself. The following year, he recorded anew the Armenian popular songs on his own transcription, adding also works of the Armenian national composer Komitas, in a CD released by the “Pomegrenade” American company, which won an award in Hollywood, USA, as the best in the category of Best Instrumental Albums. The success was followed by a new tour in various cities of America and Canada, such as New York, Boston, San Francisco, Texas, Vancouver and others.
His last recording activities include a CD with works of Agustin Barrios, which has already been released by the “Pomegrenade” American company, in Greece and abroad, as well as his transcription for guitar of Mikis Theodorakis’s work “Epitafios”. On November 14, 2009, on the occasion of the Polytechneion uprising anniversary, 70.000 copies of this CD were distributed by the daily newspaper Eleftherotypia.
For this recording he has received a note with the following complimentary remarks by the famous composer:
Thirty-five years since John Williams and some other great guitarists have dealt with my work, and specifically with “Epitafios”, Iakovos Kolanian comes to add his own view, in the double role of the arranger and performer.
In arranging the eight parts of the work for solo guitar, I believe that, while he remains faithful to the spirit and letter of “Epitafios”, on the other hand, he renders fantastic “breadth” and “depth” to it, by making best use of all the great technical and expressive potentials of this magnificent and difficult instrument. Thus, having no intention to underestimate the previous attempts, I dare say that I consider this arrangement as being the closest to the spirit of my work, while, at the same time, it enables the performer to wholly unfold all potentials of musical expression and technical maturity.
I rank Kolanian, as a performer, at an equal level of excellence, since in many parts of the work, he achieves technical and expressive perfection.
It is a fact ,though, that “Epitafios” for solo guitar, in its entirety, attains a new dimension, which, I’m sure, will be fully appreciated both by those who are familiar to my music and the larger audience.
I truly wish him to enjoy the great success he deserves. I would also like to publicly express my affection and thanks for his love towards my work.
Mikis Theodorakis Athens, 18.09.2006
For the last three years, Iakovos Kolanian is collaborating with the “Philippos Nakas” musical publishing house, recording CDs with works of E. Pujol, J. Sagreras, F. Carulli, M. Carcassi and F. Sor and publishing the respective musical books.
In parallel with his artistic activity, he teaches at the “Philippos Nakas” Conservatory, he is the director of the guitar department of the “Contemporary Music Education” Conservatory and heis in charge of the the “musical workshop” of the Gherakas Municipality.
