The TSSO΄s recordings have gained recognition through various international prizes and laudatory reviews, pronouncing the or- chestra an ambassador of Greek culture and Greek musical her- itage abroad. International musical collaborations of the TSSO abroad have in- cluded successful concerts in Berlin, Munich, Beijing, Sofia, Prague, Valencia, Florence, Pistoia, Marseille, Strasbourg, Clermont-Fer- rand, Plovdiv, Cyprus, et al., while the list of international artists that have collaborated with the Orchestra features names such as L. Pavarotti, P. Domingo, J. Carreras, A. Khatchaturian, M. Ros- tropovich, V. Ashkenazy, M. Shostakovich, A. Ciccolini, I. Pogorelich, L. Kogan, S. Accardo, G. Shaham, P. Badura-Skoda, N. Gutman, M. Maisky, I. Gillan, J. Anderson, T. Hampson, M. Alvarez, P. Gallois, A. Desplat, M. Nyman, A. Avital, D. Hope, Ο. Dimitriades, L. Kavakos e.a. Following TSSO’s founder and first Director, Solon Michaelides, a succession of eminent greek musicians have served as Directors: Giorgos Thymis, Alkis Baltas, Karolos Trikolidis, Kosmas Galileas, Konstantinos Patsalides, Leonidas Kavakos, Mikis Michaelides, Myron Michailidis, Alexandre Myrat, Giorgos Vranos, and Zoi Tsokanou. Τhe current Director of the TSSO is Simos Papanas, while Leo McFall is serving as its Principal Conductor. www.tsso.gr 13