KONSTANDINOS PALAIOLOGOS
(The Fall of Constantinople)
Κωνσταντίνος ο Παλαιολόγος. (Πήραν την Πόλη)(1961)
This is Kalomiris's last work. He considered it his highest achievement. In Palaiologos - he said to Hari Politopoulos a month before his death - I have achieved, more than ever before, a unity I have always been struggling for : all musical themes spring from one central fountain theme. Kalomiris last speech at the Athens Academy was about Palaiologos and he has dedicated it to the Greek People.
The libretto is currently available only in Greek. There is a poor translation into French. The piano score published by the National Opera of Greece and a photocopy of the full score are available from the Manolis Kalomiris Society.
A professional live recording of the complete work was made in 1997 in Thessaloniki but conductor Byron Fidetzis has not yet authorised its release.