The audience begins to clap, gradually gathering speed in time with the pianists on stage. Willed on by the percussive accelerando, the duo zips through Zorba’s Dance, a piece by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis that evokes ouzo-soaked taverns and hot summer nights. The dark-haired pianists, virtually identical in sunglasses and denim shorts, finish their own arrangement of Greece’s popular musical export with a flourish. As the sun makes a lengthy retreat behind the tree-lined stage, musicians invite young audience members to try out some instruments. A child delights at blowing a clarinet mouthpiece, another tentatively presses piano keys. These guests have come from one of the refugee camps that remain on Lesbos, the Turkey-adjacent island that unwittingly became the centre of the 2015 migrant crisis.
A short while later, the stage lights – and mosquito repellent – are out in full force. The pianists, Greek-German sisters Danae and Kiveli Dörken, are back. Alternating between, alongside works by Glass, Mendelssohn, Brahms and others), co-creating a festival seemed like a natural step. ‘Working together feels like our superpower,’ says Kiveli. ‘We can accomplish so much more.’ Facing hurdles that have included the European financial crisis, huge numbers of displaced people, a pandemic and sprawling forest fires, two artistic heads proved better than one. The sisters have reflected contemporary challenges in their programming, from 2016’s ‘Crossroads’ theme to 2023’s ‘Symbiosis’, and are preparing to curate a special tenth edition for 2024. ‘It’s been challenging, but together we can keep going,’ says Danae. ‘No-one knows us better than we do each other,’ adds Kiveli.
