orchestra conductor
Sinfonietta Passau
The interaction with the orchestra is brilliant, also because the orchestra itself is alert, never switches off and is characterised by great unity. This is impressively demonstrated by the winds in Saint-Saëns or in Sibelius' Symphony No. 3: not only are the entries themselves homogeneous, but also the mutual decrescendo after the accent. Papakyriakou's sense of detail is exemplary here, the sum of which results in a wonderfully balanced and rounded orchestral sound.
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Here [Sibelius Symphony No. 3], Eleni Papakyriakou focusses entirely on the composer's concentrated expressive will. She guides the musicians smoothly and clearly through the orchestration, energetically demands the increasing rhythmic tempo and finely works out the interplay of the changing motifs and fragments. The symphony ends exhilaratingly and hymn-like.
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The Sinfonietta produced a sound that, for all its well-rehearsed precision, sounded free and invigorating. And this natural music-making characterised the evening to the complete satisfaction of the audience.
Philipp Heidepeter, Passauer Neue Presse / Dr. Edith Rabenstein Kulturblog / Kristian Kuhnle, Straubinger Tagblatt
05.2025
Orchestre Pasdeloup
Avec une gestuelle très précise [...] elle en propose une lecture vigoureuse, au rythme solidement souligné par des accents impeccables [...]. Les timbres qu’elle obtient de certains musiciens, comme les puissantes cordes graves ou l’élégant hautbois, suffisent à retenir l’attention du spectateur.
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With a very precise gesture [...] she offers a vigorous interpretation, with a rhythm solidly underlined by impeccable accents [...]. The timbres she obtains from certain musicians, such as the powerful bass strings or the elegant oboe, are enough to hold the spectator's attention.
bachtrack.com / Clara Leonardi 13.12.2021
Passau University Orchestra
Papakyriakou conducts devotedly with all her body and gives all the cues energetically and very precisely. You can feel the bond between her and the musicians. She has studied the works very carefully and makes the music shine with the right tempi. - Thanks to the clear conducting and the bravely mastered solos, one can experience a remarkable interpretation. [P. Dukas "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"] - The broad tempi give the Promenade almost devotional features and allow the various images to take effect. - What an increase at the Hut Of Baba Yaga and the Great Gate Of Kiev! The grandiose wide ending provides a moving silence - emotion and gratitude for a great body of sound of which the university and all of Passau can be proud.
Carola Baumann-Moritz, Passauer Neue Presse 24.07.2023
Landestheater Niederbayern
The reinforced chorus fulfilled its important role continuously, Eleni Papakyriakou had especially transformed the world-famous "prisoners' chorus" to an impressive sound experience.
Neues Volksblatt 18.06.2019, G. Verdi: Nabucco
Opinions & Recommendations
Due to her special communication skills, her precise preparation and her constructive rehearsal work, but also because of her artistic personality and charisma, she gained great recognition from the colleagues and the students right from the start of the collaboration. The reactions from the circle of participants have been absolutely unanimous since the beginning of the rehearsals and can best be described as "euphoric". Ms. Papakyriakou obviously manages to ignite enthusiasm and motivation among the orchestra members to a degree that I have never experienced in my many years of leadership.
Dr. Peter Gries, Director Music Academy "Louis Spohr" Kassel