Born in Athens, Greece, to a family of Asian heritage, Marilena Chrysochoidi grew up surrounded by a rich mosaic of musical influences. Her musical journey began at the age of 7 with piano lessons. Attending a music-focused high school expanded her repertoire to include the tambouras and sparked her passion for the traditional Greek instrument, the santur. Alongside her instrumental studies, Marilena pursued vocal training, specializing in classical singing under the guidance of Marina Krilovici. In 2014, she earned her opera degree with distinction under the mentorship of Cellia Costea.

Now based in Belgium, Marilena embarks on a new musical chapter, singing traditional Greek folk songs accompanied by her santur. She explores the rich repertoire of Smyrnaic songs and Rebetiko, engaging in exciting collaborations, including performances with the Brussels Balkan Orchestra and the Gipsy-Ska Orchestra on stages in Belgium and the Netherlands.

For this concert, she is joined by Greek singer Dimitris Rossidis, an exceptional Rebetiko guitarist and Belgian violinist Nicolas Hauzeur, a Balkan troubadour. Together, they invite you on a musical journey from Izmir to the Aegean Islands, exploring the early Rebetiko era. The santur, violin, and guitar provide elegant and subtle support for the voices of soprano Marilena Chrysochoidi and Dimitris Rossidis, alternating between solo moments and harmonious dialogues.

Musicians:

Marilena Chrysochoidi : vocals, santur
Dimitris Rossidis : vocals, guitar
Nicolas Hauzeur : violin

A concert at Caroline and Jérôme’s

At Caroline and Jérôme’s home, they love listening to all kinds of music. There’s always a musical background playing throughout the house, filling every floor with melodies.

Living Room Music Winter Sessions

As part of its nomadic season, Muziekpublique presents the Living Room Music Winter Sessions. 19 concerts in apartments across the 19 municipalities of Brussels. 19 homes opening their doors, 19 intimate evenings of live music to experience traditional tunes from all corners of the world, and the sheer joy of sharing the love of music with neighbors, friends, or family.

With the support of Tournées Art et Vie (Direction Générale de la Culture, Service Général des Arts de la Scène)