The Darkness of Mistico, an opera written by 2012 Brunel alumnus Gregory Emfietzis, was performed by the Greek National Opera in June as part of a Contemporary Opera programme.
The production, staged at the National Opera House, Athens and with a libretto written by Gregory’s frequent collaborator Myrto Loulaki, is based upon the story of the Greek mythological figure Orpheus. It explores specific dramatic concepts such as myth and reality, mysticism, and the musicians themselves as leading participants in the production.
Gregory graduated from Brunel in 2012 with a PhD in Music Composition, supervised by Professor Christopher Fox, Dr Jennifer Walshe and Richard Barrett. He describes his music as exploring "the drama, psychology and ritualism of public performance. Reaching far beyond sound alone it embraces staging, lighting, dramaturgy, costume design and more." This complexity made the premiere of his opera a real learning experience: "Due to the nature of opera, the number of people involved in the production, and the efforts and synchronisation required from everyone involved, this has been an extremely valuable lesson for any future engagement," he said.
Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Gregory is himself a violinist and singer who has performed in international festivals, concerts and operas. Following his first degree in Music Science and Art at the University of Macedonia, he moved to the UK in 2004 to study for an MA in Contemprary Music and Composition before enrolling for a PhD at Brunel.
Gregory's music has been performed by leading ensembles across Europe and North America. He has worked with groups including Asamisimasa (Norway), the London Contemporary Orchestra (UK), Okeanos Ensemble (UK), Orkest de Ereprijs (Netherlands) and the Sonic Inertia Performance Group (USA). In 2013 he created Music Impossible, a shadow music theatre project supported by the Arts Council and the London Symphony Orchestra as part of the LSO's Soundhub Scheme. He is currently developing a new work for the LSO.
For more information about Gregory's music, to hear samples and view video clips of his performances, please view his personal webpage.