The Molyvos International Music Festival (MIMF) was founded in 2015 by the German-Greek pianists Danae and Kiveli Dörken and the young entrepreneur Dimitris Tryfon. Since then, the focus has been on ensuring the high quality of the festival held annually in Lesbos and its year-round musical youth support program “Musical Key”. The aim is to offer classical music on a world-class level for residents and visitors to the island, to promote cross-border cultural cooperation and an intercultural dialogue, as well as to support the development of the region as a cultural center with specially designed mediation and inclusion measures.
MIMF unites young musicians from all over the world and world stars of classical music to exclusive chamber music ensembles. The central venue is the medieval castle of Molyvos, in addition, there will be pre-festival activities with free entrances on the two islands Lesbos and Chios, short special concerts (“Molyvos Musical Moments”) in public places on Molyvos and a moderated children’s concert followed by a meeting between audience and the artist. Every year, the program deals with a topic that reflects the rich Greek culture and puts it in a current context; In 2020, the motto “Odyssey” illuminates the subject of flight and migration. A deeper engagement with it takes place in the context of a public symposium. Since 2018, the Tryfon Arts Residency has been part of the interdisciplinary festival.
The Molyvos International Music Festival (MIMF) 2023 is entitled “Symbiosis”. On the Greek island of Lesbos from 11 to 19 August 2023, Danae and Kiveli Dörken will perform four main concerts (as well as “opening acts”) with selected chamber music colleagues on the theme of the absolute necessity of a new, harmonious and respectful interaction between man and nature.
In addition to Danae and Kiveli Dörken, Antje Weithaas, Kirill Troussov, Tobias Feldmann and Noé Inui (violin), Lech Uszynski and Muriel Razavi (viola), Isang Enders and Benedict Klöckner (cello), David Orlowsky (clarinet) and soprano Danae Kontora will perform.
