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Aspasia Nasopoulou (Greek:Ασπασία Νασοπούλου, born Athens 11 October 1972) is a Greek composer living and working in Amsterdam since 2002. Her music ranges from solo instrumental and ensemble pieces to dance and vocal music. Her classical background gives her work a poetic, profound and dynamic contemporary expressiveness. By frequently integrating visuals, costumes and decors in her performances she creates a strong intimacy. "In her music I hear occasional echoes of her Greek background and a feel for energy and sonority that, at one extreme, is not so far from Xenakis; but she also has a lyrical gift and a feel for instrumental possibilities that is quite distinctive." Bob Gilmore, 2010

Biography
Aspasia Nasopoulou studied Piano in Conservatory of Piraeus and Composition with Michalis Travlos at the Odeio Nikos Skalkotas Conservatory. She studied further composition with Wim Henderickx and Fabio Nieder at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. She was guest researcher at the Musicology department of the Universiteit van Amsterdam and she got a Bachelor in Geology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.

Work and activities
Nasopoulou's music is being described as complex but open, transparent and evocative. "Dit zeer afwisselende (Raw Rock, suite for solo piano) maar ook pittige stuk vormt daarmee een waar feest voor het oor." Ben Tafijn, 2017

A large number of her pieces are inspired by and dealing with poetry from different times and different countries. From this she extracts not only meaning, but also concepts for her musical forms. She creates links between traditions and today. Characteristic pieces Ballads I-III for rec, vla da gamba and soprano based on Christine de Pizan poetry (1363-1430) Μελη Δ (for one performer; Aeolic harp -22 strings- drum and voice) on Anakreon’s fragments. 3*2 for historical keyboard on poems by Omar Khayyam (11th century). The use of unexpected combinations of instruments, finding the essence of their blending in sound and impact has created a personal characteristic series of pieces such as Aqua for bassoon, percussion and animation. Sophia for organ, violin and soprano. Chromata Laleonta for western chamber ensemble and Javanese Gamelan instruments. Three Love Haikus for percussion and cello and the latest large composition Ten Dipoles for Recorder’s Quintet and Ten Free Aerophones; wind instruments especially made by Horst Rickels and Ernst Dullemond. Besides composing Nasopoulou is curating concert series, and organizing workshops for professional composers. Since 2016 she is coordinating the Composer’s Treat Residency in ‘Buitenwerkplaats’ in Starnmeerdijk in the Netherlands. She was moderator and organizer at the Walter Maas Huis 2006-’09 of the series ‘De Componist’. Among the alumni of the series : Kate Moore, Hugo Morales, Bart de Vrees, Ivana Kis, Tom Tlalim.

Performances
Nasopoulou’s pieces are being commissioned and performed in Europe, USA, Japan and China by acclaimed soloists and ensembles in concerts and festivals. Among them Ralph van Raat, Wishful Singing female a cappella, DoelenKwartet & Micha Hamel (NL), Scordatura Trio, Volharding Ensemble, Nieuw Ensemble, Anna Veismane (LT), Adam Ørvad (DK), Trygve Brøske (NO), Concord Ensemble (IRL) Duo Macle (IT), November Music, Nederlandse Muziekdagen, the 45th & 48th Poetry International Rotterdam, De Pont museum of Modern Art, Haäpavesi Folk Music Festival, Gaudeamus Music Week, Concertgebouw, Van Gogh Museum, Dutch Harp Festival , Amsterdam Dance Event, Athens Concert Hall, National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan, Pianoforte Foundation of Chicago.

Awards
In 2012 Nasopoulou received the incentive prize from the MCN & Donemus Publishing Composition Competition with the piece Lelia Doura for the Seldom Sene Recorder quintet, based on cantiga d’amigos. She won in 2014 the 1st Jury and the Public prize in the Tristan Keuris Componisten Concours with the piece Nanourisma for piano, flute and bassoon. She was finalist in the International Clavichord Composition Competition in Nordic Historical Keyboard Festival, Finland in 2018.

Selected recordings
Nasopoulou’s works have be recorded and included in Cds among others:
 * In Blue and White by Odradek records, Erato Alakiozidou, solo piano (2017)
 * Carouselo di Fantasie by Stradivarius records Roberto Genova, saxophones (2016)
 * Taracea by Brilliant Classics, Seldom Sene Recorder Quartet including the awarded piece Lelia Doura  (2015)

Selected works

 * Ikaros (2018) three pieces for two violins / 30 min
 * Takuu/the sinking island (2018) for vl, cl, db, bcl, hrn, pno & perc / 8 min
 * Raw Rocks (2017) Krokeatis Lithos, Blueschist, Sandstones / suite for solo piano/ 14 min
 * Aqua (2016) for bassoon, percussion & animation
 * Ten Dipoles (2016) for recorder quintet & ten free Aerophones (Horst Rickels & Ernst Dullemond) /30min
 * Mondrian’s dream (2017) for female a cappella quintet /5 min
 * 3*2 (2016-2018) cycle for historical keyboards / 17 min
 * Ven salta (2008-2017) cross over cycle of 11 pieces for piano, percussion, ud & voice / 60 min
 * JoHaKyu (2015) for two violins / 5:30 min
 * Carousel of Fantasies (2015) for solo tenor saxophone / 10 min
 * Sophia (2015) for organ, soprano and violin / 13 min
 * Nanourisma (2014) for piano flute & bassoon / 6 min
 * Nachtwerk (2014) for sting quartet & narrator / 22min
 * Five Single breaths (2013) for accordion and Japanese sho / 15 min
 * Perivoli (2013) for string quartet and accordion / 8min
 * Lelia Doura (2012) for Recorder Quintet / 6 min (incentive prize from the MCN & Donemus Publishing)
 * Eudoxia & Olinda (2012) solo piano / 6 min
 * Why ? (2012) for solo harp / based on Shakespeare sonnet nr 76 / 6 min
 * Deseo (2011) for solo accordion / 6 min
 * Three Love Haikus (2010) for perc, cl & video / 9min
 * Instant (2009) for violoncello and soprano saxophone / 11 min
 * HemiAeroPartitura (2008) for two recorders and soprano / 23 min
 * Here and there (2007) for piano, violoncello and alto saxophone / 7 min
 * Eternal Light (2006) for string quartet, double bass, flute, piano, perc and mezzo soprano/ 12 min
 * One/Hitotsu (2006) for Japanese Sho and soprano / 6 min
 * Teiresias Kadmos (2006) for recorder (s) and guitar / 12 min
 * Ballades I-III (2005)for medieval recorder, viola d’arco & mezzo soprano/ 8 min
 * Messenger I (2005) for solo marimba / 8 min
 * Stigmes (2005)for solo marimba / 7 min
 * Merose (2003) vl, vla, vlc, db, fl, ob, cl, gtr hrp, mand & perc / 12 min
 * Chromata Laleonta (2003) for chamber orchestra & Javanese Gamelan instruments / 7 min
 * 10+ Tessera (2002) for 4ble bowed vibraphone and piano / 12 min /
 * Asemna (2002) for string quartet, flute, piano, mezzo soprano and narrator / 14 min
 * Aenaos Kyklos ( 2001) for piano violin and cello / seven variations on a theme by N.Drelas / 10 min
 * Three moods for solo guitar / 9 min
 * Three moods for solo guitar / 9 min