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“The start of this recital is so passionately compelling that for a moment I thought that I’d put a disc of Martha Argerich in my player, only to discover that it was indeed the new ARS Produktion release of Danae Dörken playing the first of five preludes of Manolis Kalomiris: “Molto agitato ed appassionato”. Listening on I wondered if my ‘mistake’ was all that big. Both have an emotion rich background, giving their interpretations that extra zest; Argerich from Argentina, Dörken from Greece, a whole generation apart, but both having that rare pianistic feeling enabling them to adjust to different styles, and last but not least that phenomenal technique.”

Read the entire review here:

https://www.hraudio.net/showmusic.php?title=13823#reviews

“Sie bringt die Poesie der Musik zum Ausdruck, macht die mitreißende Melodik fast spürbar und formuliert durchgehend mit kreativer Lust. Eine brillante Aufnahme.

KK: Wen bzw. was möchten Sie mit Ihrer Arbeit erreichen?
DD: Ich möchte alle Menschen erreichen, die klassische Musik lieben und auch diejenigen, die sie noch nicht kennen und noch überzeugt werden müssen. Also eigentlich jeden!

KK: Wenn Sie eine Autobiographie schreiben würden, wie wäre der Titel?
DD: Always look on the bright side of life!”

Read the whole interview here:

http://www.kultkomplott.de/Permalink/Artikel/1737/#article_anchor_1737

“Disappointment turns into delight” is what the Austrian newspaper titled its review of Danae Dörken’s last-minute replacement of sick Aaron Pilsan at the Schubertiade Hohenems in a duo recital together with cellist Kian Soltani.

Take a look at the entire article of her spontaneous debut at this festival here:

https://www.vn.at/kultur/2019/07/14/aus-enttaeuschung-wurde-entzuecken.vn

Danae Dörken just played her very successful solo debut at the prestigious Rheingau Musikfestival presenting her new recital programme “EAST and WEST”.

Take a look at the review here:

https://www.fr.de/kultur/musik/pianistin-danae-doerken-beim-rheingau-musik-festival-12761151.html

“”Nein, Kritiken nehme ich nicht so ernst”, sagt Danae Dörken.

Seit sie sich entschieden hat, ihr Leben als Musikerin zu bestreiten, ging es nur bergauf. Da war sie 17 und saß schon über zehn Jahre am Klavier. Das Talent blitzte aber genügend hervor, um vom seinerzeit berühmtesten Pianistenmacher Deutschlands, dem Professor Karl-Heinz Kämmerling in Hannover in Obhut genommen zu werden.

Danae Dörken hat einen deutschen Vater und eine griechische Mutter. In jugendlichem Überschwang fasste sie vor vier Jahren den Plan, auf Lesbos, ihrer Heimatinsel, ein Musikfestival zu gründen. Klassische europäische Kunstmusik war dort weitgehend unbekannt – umso aufmerksamer und unvoreingenommener hörten die Menschen unter dem südlichen Himmel zu. Los ging es zudem mitten in der Flüchtlingskrise – welche Rolle Musik bei ihrer Bewältigung spielte, erzählt die unbekümmerte und begeisterungsfähige Pianistin heute im “hr2-Doppelkopf”.

Gastgeber: Andreas Bomba“

Listen to the 40 minute interview here:

https://www.hr2.de/gespraech/doppelkopf/doppelkopf–am-tisch-mit-danae-doerken-deutsch-griechin,id-doppelkopf-1246.html

Danae Dörken’s new album “EAST and WEST” is being released today. Danae Dörken has made it “her personal mission in this day and age to show that diversity is something that ultimately brings us together and gives us enormous strength.” Her choice to combine the works of a broad range of composers such as Schubert, de Falla and Bartók on her new album East and West reflects precisely the aforementioned sentiment. The compositions on the album all share the commonality of being heavily influenced by folk music traditions. Dörken explains that “the folkloristic character of these compositions highlight the individual elements of each culture which render the pieces unique and underscore the necessity for them to never get lost.”

You can get it in all stores or online:

http://danae-doerken.com/shop/

“Hailed as one of the rising stars of her generation, the 27-year-old German-Greek pianist is also a festival organizer. She tells DW why artistry fulfills an essential function in people’s lives.”

You can read Danae Dörken’s latest interview with Deutsche Welle here:

https://www.dw.com/en/bonns-schumannfest-pianist-danae-dörken-on-the-power-of-music/a-49231508

Danae Dörken appeared as a guest on the podcast “Kultur öffnet Welten” and talked about how culture can open doors to different worlds and her favourite books.

Take a listen here:

Spotify: https://sptfy.com/4Dse

Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2WlLfh9

Take a look at the making of Danae Dörken’s new piano solo album combining music from East and West with pieces inspired by folk tunes from eight different countries.

https://youtu.be/aoK-Ji9AeNg

This album highlights what makes us all unique, but also what connects us and brings us together.

“MO-TO Key”, the educational programme of the Molyvos International Music Festival in cooperation with TONALi!, culminated in a sold-out final concert last week. After taking part in a 2 day workshop giving them all the tools that you need in cultural management, the children taking part in the project successfully organized all the concerts from start to finish, took care of the musicians, did all the PR and filled the hall for the final event.

(Photos by Ervis Zika)