“The professional ensemble «PolyPhonia», focusing their interest especially on the polyphonic music of Renaissance and including in their repertory works of the greatest composers of that era, have the knowledge, the technique, as well as the experience which allow them to show off the demanding Leontaritis' works.”

Kathimerini (03/28/1999)

“His (F. Leontaritis') subtle and imaginative music sheds valuable light on the Italian inheritance in Crete during this period, and these recordings are something of which PolyPhonia may be justly proud.”

“The new Greek vocal ensemble «PolyPhonia» interprets Leontaritis' vocal works with virtuosity comparable to that of great foreign ensembles, showing off the style and the sophisticated richness of the music with sensibility and fidelity. The recording is a world premiére.”

“Thanks to Nikos Kotrokois, the ensemble «PolyPhonia» and FM Records S.A., we are at last able to hear this Greek musician's work, which seems comparable to western composers' most significant creations.  ...  The excellent recording, realized in the Holy Abbey of St. Josef in Athens, besides its national importance, constitutes the fuit of meticulous work: the ensemble «PolyPhonia» interprets Leontaritis' music with sensibility and precious sound as well as the appropriate delight, in the absence of which similar works would seem nothing more than valuable exhibits of a distant world now fallen into oblivion.”  [*****]

“  ...  an extremely interesting recording  ...  Recently, however, the Greek vocal ensemble «PolyPhonia», founded in 1994, have include Leontaritis' works in their repertory and started to present them with high quality standards.  ...  The Greek singers, accompanied by six instrumental soloists, approach the renaissance repertory based on the short but essential experience of their live performances, interpreting its rich, melismatic polyphony with ease and precision.”

“Nikos Kotrokois offers music-lovers the chance to discover F. Leontaritis. Nikos Kotrokois focused his musical activities, as well as that of his music ensemble «PolyPhonia», on Franghiskos Leontaritis' work. Their interpretation is full of decorum, elegance, insight and devotion.”

“Nikos Kotrokois, founder and director of the vocal ensemble «PolyPhonia», which had the great honor, as well as the great responsibility, of presenting the premier recording of the unique Greek composer of the Renaissance, has studied - as it was necessary - Leontaritis's work in depth; and with these recordings, full of meaning and substance, he also expresses in practice his esteem for the ingenious artistic spirit impregnating these works.”

“Kotrokois has worked with patience, persistence and mastery in order to show off and highlight Leontaritis' work. The detailed elaboration of the music and the meticulous work of the vocal and music ensemble «PolyPhonia» is recorded with fidelity on the disk. The balance of the voices, as well as that of the instruments, allows the formation of the sound masses with plasticity as well as refinement.”  

CLASSICAL CD OF THE MONTH

Sound and HI-FI Magazine (May 2001)

“This sublime recording (of 1997) was happily succeeded by the new recording, Volume 2, recently released on the same label. Therefore, we owe our greatest thanks, as music-lovers and Greeks, to N. Kotrokois and the singers and musicians of PolyPhonia for the exquisite interpretation they gave us.  ...  In addition, the direction of conductor and composer Nikos Kotrokois is exemplary through all works.  

 Well, I venture to characterize both Volumes (1 and 2) as equal to the excellent recordings of the memorable Reflexe series (reference releases of medieval and renaissance music in 70's and 80's) and I congratulate from heart all the contributors.”

“Resuming their previous high performances, the vocal and instrumental ensemble «PolyPhonia» under the direction of Nikos Kotrokois offers Greek music a bridge of contact, as well as a historical basis of dialogue with its European counterpart.”

Köln, 08/06/2001 (Broadcasted by DomRadio Köln on 24/06/2001)

“The concert hall was full of a very interested audience that listened to a music ensemble of great artistic caliber under an exceptional director.”

“The concert of byzantine and western-european music by the music ensemble «PolyPhonia» under the direction of Nikos Kotrokois was a sensation  ...  ”

Athens, 29/03/1999 (Athens Concert Hall)

“  ...  the two masses were interpreted by the ensemble with lucidity, sureness and clarity. However, an additional drive was present here, that formulated a rich and vigorous choral sound, full of internal motion, allowing the mazy dialogue of the parts to come out clearly and fascinatingly.”

“Mr. Nikos Kotrokois is a devoted student and interpreter of this material (the works of F. Leontaritis),   ...  Undoubtedly, the director and his a cappella ensemble have done an excellent work; and we are not talking only about the ideal homogeneity, the tonal precision or the delicate texture of the joint sound, but also about the ethos of the strict interpretation which brings to life Europe as it was in the middle of the second A.C. millennium.”

Hania, Crete, 14/05/1999

“One of the most atmospheric and interesting concerts of renaissance polyphonic music  ...  one can only note the continuous progress of the ensemble «PolyPhonia» in each performance. The preparation that takes place is obvious, and the familiarity of Kotrokois and the singers with the works yields more and more interesting results every time.”

Athens, 05/01/1997 (Live broadcast by the 3rd Programme of ERA)

“  ...  an interpretation without edges, characterized by the sweetness of sound, where the tempo alternations were embodied smoothly in the continuous melodic flow.  ...  It's fortunate that young people with enthusiasm and sensibility use their knowledge and talent to bring to light the creative work of a Greek composer, fallen in oblivion for more than 400 years.”

“PolyPhonia, the latest and one of the few Greek vocal ensembles able to interpret satisfactorily renaissance repertory, served the elaborate music of Leontaritis with devotion.  ...  The main characteristic of their interpretation was the constant care for clear and natural outlining of the parts and the unremitting tonal precision  ...  In the five motets, their sound had a micrographic precision in detail spreading equally to all parts, formulating a scholarly and subtle sound with the homogeneity of a lace.”