The Gennadius Library in Athens will host three free classical music concerts from October 2 to October 4, 2026, featuring international musicians in Kolonaki.
The event, titled Nights of Classical Music at the Gennadius Library, marks the 12th consecutive year of the autumn concert series. Presented in collaboration with the Schwarz Foundation, the performances will take place at Cotsen Hall starting at 20:00 each evening.
The three concerts are organised as part of Curtis on Tour, the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music. The initiative continues a long-standing musical tradition hosted at the Gennadius Library every autumn since 2015.
The concert program will highlight a diverse range of the chamber music repertoire. Scheduled performances feature works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, Frédéric Chopin, Ernő Dohnányi, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Robert Schumann, and Johannes Brahms.
The repertoire spans several major periods of classical music history, ranging from the Classical compositions of Mozart and Beethoven to Romantic works by Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, and Rachmaninoff. French Impressionist pieces by Debussy and Ravel, as well as 20th-century compositions by Dohnányi, complete the concert selections.
Chamber music features small instrumental ensembles where each performer plays an individual part without a conductor. The upcoming Athens concerts will highlight combinations of string and keyboard instruments, bringing together violin, viola, cello, and piano.
Participating musicians for the 2026 series include violinist Audrey Goodner, violist Edward Gazouleas, cellist Elliot Sloss, and pianist Jessie Gong.
All performances will be held in Cotsen Hall at 9 Anapiron Polemou Street in the Kolonaki neighborhood of Athens. Admission to every concert is free of charge, with priority entry passes distributed to attendees one hour prior to each performance at 19:00.
Concert Series History and International Partnerships
The Curtis Institute of Music, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ranks among the leading conservatories for classical music education worldwide. Established in 1924, the institution trains exceptional young musicians for careers as soloists and orchestral performers.
Through the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative, Curtis on Tour pairs emerging artists from the institute with experienced faculty members and alumni. The program brings chamber performances to audiences across Europe, North America, and Asia.
The Schwarz Foundation is a private institution dedicated to promoting international artistic exchange and cultural initiatives. Through its ongoing partnership with the Gennadius Library and the Curtis Institute, the foundation supports accessible public music programming in Greece.
Centenary of the Gennadius Library
The Gennadius Library was founded in 1926 by Greek diplomat and scholar Joannes Gennadius. The institution celebrates 100 years of continuous operation in 2026, serving as a key center for historical research and cultural preservation in Athens.
Situated on the southern slopes of Mount Lycabettus in central Athens, the library complex serves as an architectural landmark in the Kolonaki district. The institution maintains extensive holdings of rare editions, historical maps, and manuscripts covering ancient, Byzantine, and modern Greek history.
Located at 61 Souidias Street in Kolonaki, the facility operates as part of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, an educational and research institution established in 1881.
The work of the Gennadius Library is supported by private donors who fund academic fellowships, research programs, scholarly publications, and public cultural events. Research conducted by visiting scholars contributes to the ongoing study and promotion of Greek heritage, maintaining the library as a venue for intercultural dialogue.
Venue Access and Event Information
Organisers advise visitors that seating in Cotsen Hall is limited and available on a first-come basis. Priority tickets will be given out at the venue entrance starting at 19:00 before each 20:00 concert performance.
Detailed event schedules and official venue information can be accessed online through the American School of Classical Studies at Athens event page.
