PROJECTS

“ACROSS”
30 & 31 July 2022

Archaic temple of Apollo Metropolis, Karditsa

The performance “Across” starts from the spatio-temporal framework of the Asia Minor Catastrophe.
CHÓRES, as passengers of a boat sailing in the Eastern Aegean bound for Greece
shores, narrate, in their own musical language, memories from the past and of their homelands.
Rich and poor, young and old, daughters and mothers, others from the Instanbul and from Smyrni,
others from Cappadocia, Pontus and the coasts, one by one shared by known and unknown
aspects of everyday life that they are forced to leave behind.
By using their bodies and voices as a vehicle, the boat turns into an “ark” to rescue motley
of musical references, from the invaluable Asia Minor musical tradition, which are connected by one
strong shared experience: the painful displacement, the uprooting, the journey in search of a better one
of life. The anticipation for the new place, for the new homeland and for a second chance. The CHÓRES, will recount moments from their old life, habits, experiences and everything else that makes up their identity
of their heroes, proving how every little story illuminates and fits into History.
The project “Accross” combines the melodic richness and the musical ways of the traditional
music with polyphony, exploring the multiple role of the voice in rich music tradition and composing a new musical genre that addresses the present while echoing the past.
The composition and transcription of the songs is by composer Antonis Apergis.
-The production takes place within the framework of the 2022 program, the institution “All Greece is one Culture”. of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

Composition – Music trascriptions: Antonis Apergis

Direction / Research – Dramaturgy: Yiannis Panagopoulos

Artistic direction: Marina Satti

Music Teaching – Director: Eirini Patsea
Choreography – Kinesiology: Stavros Ikbal
Sound design – Sound engineering: Giannis Voulgaris
Musicians on stage: Antonis Apergis (guitar), Yannis Poupoulis (guitar, percussion)

CΗÓRES singing:
Anthi Efstathiou, Dimitra Giakoumaki, Maria Delaporta, Eirini Zoutsou, Georgia Theologidou,
Tonia Lappa, Emilia Papapetrou, Danae Stergiou, Eleni Tasopoulou, Eleni Chrysikou
Organization – Production Execution: Nadia Samara, Thomais Triantafyllidou

ΕΙΧΑ ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΠΟΥ ΑΝΘΙΖΕ:

Οι CHÓRES παντρεύουν την παράδοση με το σήμερα και τραγουδούν για τον Πανελλήνιο Σύλλογο Γυναικών με Καρκίνο Μαστού «Άλμα Ζωής»

29 Ιουνίου 2022, 20:00 στην Τεχνόπολη Δήμου Αθηναίων

H γυναικεία χορωδία CHÓRES, σε καλλιτεχνική διεύθυνση της Μαρίνας Σάττι,  συμπράττει με τον Πανελλήνιο Σύλλογο Γυναικών με Καρκίνο Μαστού «Άλμα Ζωής» και πραγματοποιεί ειδική μουσική παράσταση στις 29 Ιουνίου  στην Τεχνόπολη Δήμου Αθηναίων. Τμήμα των εσόδων θα προσφερθεί για την ενίσχυση του σκοπού και του έργου του Συλλόγου. Η εκδήλωση αποτελεί μέρος μιας ευρύτερης συνεργασίας μεταξύ της χορωδίας CHÓRES, του Πανελλήνιου Συλλόγου Γυναικών με Καρκίνο Μαστού «Άλμα Ζωής» και του Προγράμματος «Είσαι Γυναίκα. Είσαι Δύναμη!», της Novartis Hellas, με στόχο την υποστήριξη και ενδυνάμωση των ασθενών μέσα από την τέχνη.  

Οι CHÓRES θα τραγουδήσουν επί σκηνής μαζί με μέλη του Συλλόγου «Άλμα Ζωής» και με όχημα τη μουσική θα μας μεταφέρουν από τόπο σε τόπο της Ελλάδας, αναδεικνύοντας διαφορετικές μουσικές παραδόσεις, δίνοντάς τους νέα πνοή με την ακαπέλα πολυφωνική ερμηνεία τους και το χαρακτηριστικό ηχόχρωμα τους.

Με αφορμή αυτή τη μουσική συνάντηση, συνεργάζονται με 3+6 επιφανείς συνθέτες, με τον καθένα τους να προσεγγίζει και να τιμά την παράδοση με τον δικό του ξεχωριστό τρόπο.

Ο τζαζίστας, Πέτρος Κλαμπάνης, κάνει ανασκαφή στο παρελθόν αναπολώντας τα παιδικά του βιώματα από τις χορωδίες και μαντολινάτες των νησιών του Ιονίου και γυρίζει πίσω σε αυτές με τραγούδια από τη Ζάκυνθο, την Κέρκυρα, τη Λευκάδα και την Κεφαλονιά, μέσα από τον σημερινό, μουσικό του εαυτό.

Ο εθνομουσικολόγος, Αλέξανδρος Καψοκαβάδης, εμπνέεται από τις ανώνυμες μουσικές παραδόσεις της Μεσογείου, των Βαλκανίων, της Κεντρικής Ευρώπης και του Καυκάσου και τις συνδυάζει με στίχους από την ελληνική δημοτική ποίηση της Κέρκυρας, της Κάσου, της Κρήτης και της Μάνης, ακουμπώντας σε διαχρονικά και πανανθρώπινα θέματα, όπως ο χαμένος έρωτας, η αγάπη, το μοιρολόι και το νανούρισμα.

Ο λόγιος συνθέτης, Φίλιππος Τσαλαχούρης, επεξεργάζεται τραγούδια από τη συλλογή «Τραγούδια των Δωδεκανήσων» του σπουδαίου, ελβετού μουσικού και λαογράφου της παραδοσιακής μας μουσικής, Σαμουέλ Μπω-Μποβύ.

Η συναυλία θα ολοκληρωθεί με τις λόγιες επεξεργασίες των: Νίκος Κυπουργός, Μάρθα Μαυροειδή, Άλκης Μπαλτάς, Άκης Τριανταφύλλου, Χρήστος Σαμαράς και Lajos Bárdos.

Πρόγραμμα

Πέτρος Κλαμπάνης

ΕΠΤΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΙΟΝΙΟΥ
Δύο ήλιοι δυο φεγγάρια, Μέσης, Καλλιώρα να χουν οι ελιές, Είχα καρδιά που άνθιζε, Παραπότζι.

Μουσική διδασκαλία: Σιμέλα Εμμανουηλίδου, Ειρήνη Πατσέα

Μουσική  διεύθυνση: Ειρήνη Πατσέα

Αλέξανδρος Καψοκαβάδης

ΤΑ ΠΑΘΗ ΜΟΥ ΝΑ ΓΡΑΨΩ

Δίχως μαχαίρια και σπαθιά, Νανούρισμα, Τα πάθη μου να γράψω, Γλυκομιλιά, Σε μελετά τ’ αχείλι μου.

Μουσική διδασκαλία: Σιμέλα Εμμανουηλίδου, Ειρήνη Πατσέα

Μουσική  διεύθυνση: Ειρήνη Πατσέα

Φίλιππος Τσαλαχούρης

ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΙΑΚΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙΑ
Παραξύπνημα, Κοντομπλεγμένη λεμονιά, Σαρανταπέντε λεμονιές, Μάνα, ήρτεν η άνοιξη, ο
βοσκός κι ο βασιλιάς, Κάτω στη Ρόδο, Κάτω στ’ άγριο περιβόλι.

Μουσική διδασκαλία – διεύθυνση: Χριστίνα Πουπάλου

Νίκος Κυπουργός, Μάρθα Μαυροειδή, Άλκης Μπαλτάς, Άκης Τριανταφύλλου, Χρήστος Σαμαράς και Lajos Bárdos.

ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΟΛΗ ΤΗΝ ΕΛΛΑΔΑ
Πλένω στο κρύο ρέμα (Ν. Κυπουργός), Κοιμάσαι κόρη μ’ (Μ. Μαυροειδή), Τραγούδι των πουλιών, Χελιδονίσματα (Α. Μπαλτάς), Γιατί πουλί μου (Α. Τριανταφύλλου), Κόκκινη κλειστή δεμένη, Η λυγερή, Τί να το καμ’ η μάνα σου, Αγία Μαρίνα (Α. Μπαλτάς), Άστραψεν η ανατολή, Μηλίτσα (Χ. Σαμαράς), Πεντοζάλι, Ικαριώτικος, Τρεις κοπέλες λυγερές (Lajos Bárdos), Κλήδονας, Το Μαργούδι (Μ. Μαυροειδή).

Μουσική διδασκαλία, Διεύθυνση: Ειρήνη Πατσέα
Κινησιολογία: Σταύρος Ίκμπαλ
Καλλιτεχνική διεύθυνση: Μαρίνα Σάττι
Διεύθυνση παραγωγής: Νάντια Σαμαρά
Υπεύθυνος Επικοινωνίας: Μαρίνα Σακελλαρίου

Επιμέλεια κειμένου: Πάρις Κωνσταντινίδης, Μαρίνα Σακελλαρίου

Ο Πανελλήνιος Σύλλογος Γυναικών με Καρκίνο Μαστού «Άλμα Ζωής» είναι Μη Κερδοσκοπικό Σωματείο που ιδρύθηκε το 1988 και το Διοικητικό του Συμβούλιο και τα μέλη του είναι γυναίκες που έχουν βιώσει εμπειρία καρκίνου μαστού. Όλα αυτά τα χρόνια το «Άλμα Ζωής» προσφέρει δωρεάν ψυχοκοινωνική στήριξη στη γυναίκα που νοσεί και στα μέλη της οικογένειάς της, παρέχει έγκυρη ενημέρωση στην ασθενή σχετικά με όλα τα θέματα που αφορούν στην υγεία της ώστε να είναι πλήρως ενημερωμένη, διεκδικεί τα δικαιώματα των ασθενών και προσπαθεί να συμβάλει στη μείωση των θανάτων από τη νόσο μέσω της ενημέρωσης και κινητοποίησης του γενικού πληθυσμού για τις μεθόδους πρωτογενούς και δευτερογενούς πρόληψης του καρκίνου του μαστού. Περισσότερα για τον Σύλλογό μας μπορείτε να βρείτε εδώ: www.almazois.gr

Σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα «Είσαι γυναίκα. Είσαι δύναμη!»

Το πρόγραμμα «Είσαι γυναίκα. Είσαι δύναμη!» είναι μια πρωτοβουλία της Novartis Hellas, που ξεκίνησε το 2015 με στόχο την ολιστική υποστήριξη των γυναικών που νοσούν ή έχουν νοσήσει από καρκίνο του μαστού. To πρόγραμμα εστιάζει στις ανάγκες της γυναίκας ασθενούς και έχει στόχο τη στήριξη και την συναισθηματική ενδυνάμωσή της, μέσω δωρεάν παρακολούθησης σεμιναρίων, με βασικούς θεματικούς άξονες την τέχνη, την έκφραση και την αυτο-φροντίδα.

Μια πρωτοβουλία για τον Πανελλήνιο Σύλλογο Γυναικών με Καρκίνο Μαστού «Άλμα Ζωής»

Με την υποστήριξη “Είσαι γυναίκα είσαι δύναμη” και τη Novartis

Με την υποστήριξη της Τεχνόπολης Δήμου Αθηναίων

Και με την υποστήριξη της Εθνικής Λυρικής Σκηνής

Sophocles, Papadiamantis, Bost

The female vocal ensemble CHÓRES under the artistic direction of Marina Satti returns to the Greek National Opera Alternative Stage at the SNFCC with two new programmes, focused on theatre and music respectively, that will be presented on 4 and 5 June 2022.

The first programme,  CHÓRES on Stage (4/6), includes music for theatre by Kharálampos Goyós (for Sophocles’ Antigone and Bost’s Medea) that will be presented for the first time as a work-in-progress transcribed for the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES, as well as a polyphonic narration of Alexandros Papadiamantis’ short story Eros-Hero, taught and directed by Giorgos Matziaris and based on a score by Simela Emmanouilidou.

The second programme, CHÓRES in Concert (5/6), will feature an anthology of choral works by Alexandros Kapsokavadis, Petros Klampanis, Nikos Kypourgos, Martha Mavroidi, Alkis Baltas, Lajos Bárdos, Christos Samaras, Angelos Triantafyllou and Philippos Tsalahouris, that are mainly polyphonic arrangements of Greek traditional songs.

CHÓRES on Stage – First part

Kharálampos Goyós’ music for Sophocles’ Antigone, based on Dimitris Maronitis’ translation, was written in 2016 for a production of the National Theatre of Greece directed by its then artistic director, Stathis Livathinos and honoured with the Music Award at the Cyprus Theatre Awards for the 2015/16 season. The music for Bosts’s Medea is the first score produced by the composer for theatre and it was written in 1999 for the performance of the play by the Theatre Group of the Cultural Center of the Municipality of Aghia Paraskevi, directed by Giannis Degaitis. The joint presentation of these two  scores does not focus on the tragic pair of Antigone and Kreon, nor on the imposing figure of (Bost’s) Medea and the comic conflict between her and Jason. On the contrary, emphasis is given on the treatment of the turbulent royal disputes by the general population. In terms of structure, the succession of the two works creates a form, where the tragic and sober first part is compensated by the playful and amusing second part, which serves as a kind of “satyr (or satirical?) play.”

The transcriptions of the works for the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES and the present arrangement were created especially for this concert and are presented for the first time as a work-in-progress. Heartfelt thanks are due to Erifyli and Niki Maroniti for the permission to use Dimitris Maronitis’ translation of Sophocles’ Antigone for free, as well as to Yannis Bostantzoglou and Thalassini Vostantzoglou for the permission to use the text of Bost’s Medea for free.

CHÓRES on Stage – Second part

With the polyphonic narration of Alexandros Papadiamantis’ famous short story Eros-Hero, written in 1897, director Giorgos Matziaris attempts to create a scenic “ode to love”, while highlighting the acting skills of the vocal ensemble members.  Thanks to simple, handcrafted stage solutions, CHÓRES turn the Alternative Stage into a boat threatened to be engulfed by the rage of the sea, to tell through their bodies and voices the story of the unfulfilled love of sailor Yorgis for the young girl Archonto, while excerpts of famous songs by Michalis Souyioul and Alexia Emmanouilidou are blended with Simela Emmanouilidou’s original score. “What is love? To want to be with someone and not dare to? To not be able to hold their hand and tell them ‘let’s go wherever it takes us’? Is it love to feel that you are not loved? Is it love to keep hoping till the end? Is love mutual or can it still be love even if it is not mutual?”, notes the director Giorgos Matziaris.

CHÓRES on Stage – First part

Kharálampos Goyós
Antigone (2016)
Music for Sophocles’ tragedy
Translation: Dimitris Maronitis
Collaboration on dramaturgy: Elsa Andrianou

Medea (1999)
Music for Bost’s play
Musical direction: Kharálampos Goyós
Costume coordination: Konstantinos Zamanis

Vassilis Dimakopoulos (bass)

Female vocal ensemble CHÓRES

Guido de Flaviis (saxophone, voice)
Thodoris Vazakas (percussion)
Frixos Mortzos, Marilena Souri (piano, harmonium, celesta)

CHÓRES on Stage – Second part

Eros – Hero
[An ode to love]
A polyphonic narration of Alexandros Papadiamantis’ short story

Text: Alexandros Papadiamantis
Teaching, direction: Giorgos Matziaris
Score: Simela Emmanouilidou
Including the songs “Sto mouragio” (music: Michalis Souyioul, lyrics: Christos Giannakopoulos) and “Helios” (music, lyrics: Alexia Chrysomalli)
Set construction: Alexandros Syrogiannoulis, Irini Petraki

Artistic director of the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES: Marina Satti
Musical training of the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES: Simela Emmanouilidou, Irini Patsea, Christina Poupalou

Production manager of the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES: Thomais Triantafyllidou

Photo: Gina Skandami

The event «CHÓRES ON STAGE / CHÓRES IN CONCERT» is part of the GNO Alternative Stage’s strand of programming titled “SUNDAY MORNINGS” that falls under the Act “FESTIVAL EVENTS OF THE GNO ALTERNATIVE STAGE” (MIS 5004053), code 2017ΕΠΑ08510107 (Axis 06 of the “ATTICA” O.P.), and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Funds.

The female vocal ensemble CHÓRES under the artistic direction of Marina Satti returns to the Greek National Opera Alternative Stage at the SNFCC with two new programmes, focused on theatre and music respectively, that will be presented on 4 and 5 June 2022.

The first programme,  CHÓRES on Stage (4/6), includes music for theatre by Kharálampos Goyós (for Sophocles’ Antigone and Bost’s Medea) that will be presented for the first time as a work-in-progress transcribed for the female vocal ensemble CHÓRES, as well as a polyphonic narration of Alexandros Papadiamantis’ short story Eros-Hero, taught and directed by Giorgos Matziaris and based on a score by Simela Emmanouilidou.

The second programme, CHÓRES in Concert (5/6), will feature an anthology of choral works by Alexandros Kapsokavadis, Petros Klampanis, Nikos Kypourgos, Martha Mavroidi, Alkis Baltas, Lajos Bárdos, Christos Samaras, Angelos Triantafyllou and Philippos Tsalahouris, that are mainly polyphonic arrangements of Greek traditional songs.

CHÓRES in concert

With the polyphonic narration of Alexandros Papadiamantis’ famous short story Eros-Hero, written in 1897, director Giorgos Matziaris attempts to create a scenic “ode to love”, while highlighting the acting skills of the vocal ensemble members.  Thanks to simple, handcrafted stage solutions, CHÓRES turn the Alternative Stage into a boat threatened to be engulfed by the rage of the sea, to tell through their bodies and voices the story of the unfulfilled love of sailor Yorgis for the young girl Archonto, while excerpts of famous songs by Michalis Souyioul and Alexia Emmanouilidou are blended with Simela Emmanouilidou’s original score. “What is love? To want to be with someone and not dare to? To not be able to hold their hand and tell them ‘let’s go wherever it takes us’? Is it love to feel that you are not loved? Is it love to keep hoping till the end? Is love mutual or can it still be love even if it is not mutual?”, notes the director Giorgos Matziaris.

The event «CHÓRES ON STAGE / CHÓRES IN CONCERT» is part of the GNO Alternative Stage’s strand of programming titled “SUNDAY MORNINGS” that falls under the Act “FESTIVAL EVENTS OF THE GNO ALTERNATIVE STAGE” (MIS 5004053), code 2017ΕΠΑ08510107 (Axis 06 of the “ATTICA” O.P.), and is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and National Funds.

Concert

Mikis Theodorakis cycle
As part of the tribute to the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution

Greek National Opera Alternative Stage
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Lyric images of Mikis Theodorakis’ timeless songs are presented on the Greek National Opera Alternative Stage in a unique concert, as part of the three-year tribute cycle to Mikis Theodorakis. The concert titled Mikis Theodorakis: Lyric Images, arranged by Yannis Belonis, conducted by Elias Voudouris and sung by Yannis Kotsiras, will be held on the GNO Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on 12, 13, 14, 15 May 2022, as part of the tribute to the bicentennial of the Greek Revolution.

The concert programme includes snapshots from Mikis Theodorakis’ forty-year-long career in songwriting, theatre and cinema, revealing another side of this great composer: more lyric, more inward-looking and sensitive, far from the stereotype of a robust “theodorakism”. The concert also features singer Nefeli Fasouli, the chórεs female vocal ensemble and a ten-member instrumental ensemble.

Despite the indomitable diversity of Mikis Theodorakis’ mammoth catalogue of works, there is no doubt that song was, from the end of the 50s onwards, the hegemonic form through which the composer influenced the musical (and political) life of the times he lived in, always in the spirit of his visionary communication with a certain (peculiar and seasonal, as he himself admitted) perception of the concept of the people. A large part of his songs has been inextricably linked with the struggles of the Greek nation during difficult times in its history, cinematic hits such as Zorba the Greek and the internationally unprecedented venture of blending high and popular culture, something Theodorakis strived for through the combination of modernist poetry with the living tradition of popular music – a venture that marked and, in part, defined the course and tradition of what is still called “Greek song.”

Yet, there also exist some songs written by the composer that are less regularly recalled and performed; they reveal another face of Mikis Theodorakis, more lyrical, more introverted and more sensitive. There, the composer sings the praises of love, nature, children and dreams, and comes face to face with the emotional impact of alienation, death, and frustration. In these works, Theodorakis still depends on texts by major poets and lyricists (such as Manolis Anagnostakis, Kostas Virvos, Michalis Ganas, Nikos Gatsos, Manos Eleftheriou, Odysseus Elytis, Yannis Theodorakis, Iakovos Kambanellis, Tassos Livaditis, Lefteris Papadopoulos, George Seferis, Kostas Tripolitis, Dimitris Christodoulou etc.) – although the line between “poetry” and “lyrics”, as well as that between “composition” and “songwriting”, has never been more blurred than in Theodorakis’ oeuvre.

It is this aspect of this great composer’s artistic personality that the concert titled Mikis Theodorakis: Lyric Images reveals, through a programme including snapshots from his forty-year-long career in songwriting coming from the song cycles Politeia I, Epifania, Lipotaktes, Mikres Kyklades, Farantouri Cycle, Thalassina Fengaria, Ta laika, Nychta thanatou, Balades, Ta lyrika, Taxidi mesa sti nychta, Chairetismoi, Radar, Asikiko Poulaki and Serenates, the films Phaedra and O asymvivastos, as well as the plays To tragoudi tou nekrou adelfou, Magiki poli and I geitonia ton angelon.

Fellow-travelers on this path are the arranger Yannis Belonis, great connoisseur of Theodorakis’ oeuvre, long-standing pianist in the Mikis Theodorakis Orchestra and close collaborator of the composer over the last 15 years of his life; conductor Elias Voudouris, who ranks among the most important ambassadors of Mikis Theodorakis’ symphonic and operatic oeuvre; and Yiannis Kotsiras, the composer’s personal choice for various prominent works of his and an elect member of that group of well-loved performers for whom the concept of “the popular” was historically overdetermined by the catalytic influence of the tradition deriving from Theodorakis’ work.

chórεs female vocal ensemble is a hub for artists created in 2017, as a result of a series of artistic events organised by Marina Satti with the goal of bringing out the world folk song repertoire and combining music, dance and drama education with performance and artistic expression. chórεs ensemble now consists of more than 150 women aged 13 to 55. They collaborate with celebrated teachers from different art fields and their goal is to evolve into a strong community of mutual support that favours the creation of open-minded and socially aware artists.

Their diverse repertoire ranges from folk songs from Greece, Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean. The ensemble has sung works by Konstantinidis, Samaras, Tsalahouris, Baltas, and other Greek and foreign contemporary composers. chórεs ensemble regularly collaborates with the Greek National Opera, with its members having participated in such productions as Nikos Kypourgos’ Medea, Theophrastos Sakellaridis’ Sataneries, Domna’s Song, Mikis Theodorakis’ Epitaph, festival Exit: Spring, etc. In 2020 chórεs ensemble went on its first tour across Greece as part of the Ministry of Culture’s programme “All of Greece, One Culture”, and in 2021 they presented the musical performance EXI (Six) to music by Martha Mavroidi, as part of the same programme.

In this concert chórεs will perform sacred music compositions by known and unknown composers from different parts of the world (gospel, spiritual, Swahili, etc.)

Christina Poupalou music direction, music teaching

With the participation of: 

Κonstantina Angelopoulou, Natasha Argyraki, Elina Argyriou, Sotiria Georgiou, Konstantina Yanniki, Varvara Gidopoulou, Maria Delaporta, Katerina Digenaki, Maria Kabani, Evelina Kanelaki, Nefeli Karaleka, Georgia Karafti, Sophia Katsiouri, Vicky Kelidou, Eleni Kousouri, Artemis Kyriakopoulou, Yasmin Mioubi, Katerina Barka, Panagiota Belia, Christina Bliouba, Eleftheria Bozoni, Maria Boutiva, Niki Braniste, Vasso Deve, Nikolina Dinou, Fotini Xifara, Sissy Orfanidi, Irini Papazoglou, Theodora Savvalaridi, Kiki Sakellariou, Evi Sarantakou, Angeliki Sofianopoulou, Vassiliki Sarli, Anastasia Stamatopoulou, Katerina Stamoulou, Irini Tsioliga, Stephania Haritou, Anilia Hadjisavvidi

The death of driver Tassos Tousis during the tobacco workers strikes in Thessaloniki in 1936 and mainly the photograph of his mother lamenting over her son’s dead body that was published in newspaper Rizospastis the following day inspired Yannis Ritsos to write a series of heart-wrenching poems titled Epitaph.

Mikis Theodorakis set eight of them to music in Paris in 1958. The paradox is that that two years later, in 1960, two recordings of these poems were almost simultaneously released. The one was orchestrated by Manos Hadjidakis and sung by Nana Mouskouri, and the other was orchestrated by Mikis Theodorakis and sung by Grigoris Bithikotsis. It was the latter that went down in history and brought about a real revolution in the Greek music scene. Theodorakis’ setting, which manages to musically portray every single word of Ritsos’ riveting verses, the combination of high poetry with popular (in the sense of people’s) music and bouzouki, as well as Bithikotsis’ moving performance are the key characteristics of a work that is considered a milestone in Greek discography.

In this concert the eight songs are performed non-stop, as parts of an unbreakable song cycle. The lament of the mother (soloist) is combined with the dirge of the female chorus, while the introduction of the song “Mera Mayou” (On a May day) recurs as an obsessive idea (idée fixe) throughout the work, hinting at the final farewell procession.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is situated about 300 metres south-east of the Parthenon in the historic area of Makriyannis and its entrance is next to the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian walkway that links several archaeological sites of Athens. It first opened its gates to the public in 2009 and it houses the archaeological findings from the Acropolis and its outskirts. The Museum’s exhibition, organised according to topographical, chronological and thematic criteria, offers visitors a full picture of the site and its history during antiquity. Moreover, the building, which was designed by architects Bernard Tschumi and Michalis Fotiadis, ensures the visual connection of the Museum’s exhibits with the rock and the monuments of the Acropolis, aiming to become the continuation of the natural and built environment.

Stathis Soulis conductor
Yannis Belonis arrangement
Natassa Bofiliou voice

Marina Satti artistic direction of chórεs
Ειrini Patsea, Simela Emmanouilidou music direction, instruction of chórεs
Nadia Samara, Eleni Gianni chórεs post production

Musicians:
Maria Sifneou oboe
Stephanos Theodorakis percussion
Korina Vougiouka guitar
Yannis Belonis piano
Yannis Athanassopoulos viola
Michalis Kontos cello
Nafsika Tsara flute
Oswald Amiralis double bass

With the participation of chórεs:
Fotini Varelaki, Despina Georga, Dimitra Yakoumaki, Konstantina Yannopoulou, Liana Giozou, Matina Gleni, Yulie Danigeli, Patty Dedousopoulou, Marina Emmanouilidou, Anthi Efstathiou, Irini Zoutsou, Georgia Theologidou, Maria Kazala, Irini Kampanou, Irianna Kanteli, Georgia (Jo) Karandinaki, Anastasia Karachristou, Natalia Katsimani, Nikoleta Kitsiou, Despina Kontozani, Katerina Koutsonikola, Chryssa Koutsonikola, Arielle Krarup, Vassiliki Konstantellou, Anastasia Konstantinidou, Tonia Lappa, Alcmene Basakaros, Stefani Neophytou, Georgia Dokou, Daphne Pagoulatou, Paraskevi Papakonstantinou, Emilia Papapetrou, Ino Pikioni, Avgi Roussoyannaki, Natalia Routsolia, Nadia Samara, Marina Skoura, Danae Stergiou, Dimitra Syllouri, Pelagia Tragari, Thomais Triantafyllidou, Lina Troubouni, Eleni Tsami, Katerina Hadjiathanassiou, Eleni Chryssikou

Savina Yannatou and the chόrεs female vocal ensemble led by Marina Satti join forces for the first time on a programme that combines tradition, contemporary musical creation and improvisation in an indivisible whole based on the human voice. The programme, titled Crossings, is curated by Kornilios Selamsis.  

Crossings will be presented for two unique concerts on the Greek National Opera Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on Saturday 2 April at 20.30 and on Sunday 3 April at 19.30. 

Crossings is an anthology of works based on pre-existing songs and written especially for these concerts by four different composers: Greg Eleftheriou, Yiannis Maramathas, Filippos Sakagian and Gary Salomon. 

Running through the musical landmarks and history of the Mediterranean, these original songs – traditional folk songs or songs written by known composers –  turn into material for research and creation of new musical experiences and unexpected surprises in the hands of a younger generation of composers living in Greece and abroad.

Thus the music of the Corsican polyphony, the musical culture of Sephardic (Spanish-Jewish) refugees, the songs of Lena Platonos, the tradition of the early-20th-century Smyrna, and the oldest extant complete musical composition, Seikilos’ archetypical Epitaph, cross paths with elements and media envisioned and invented by contemporary composers. The programme comes complete with two historic choral transcriptions of Greek traditional folk songs by two distinguished composers, Alkis Baltas and Christos Samaras.

This unexpected combination of musical materials produces an original sonic world that hovers at the border between modernity and tradition.  

Savina Yannatou voice

Female vocal ensemble chórεs

Konstantina Giannopoulou, Maria Delaporta, Giota Dimitrakopoulou, Marina Emmanouilidou, Irini Zoutsou, Natalia Katsimani, Sofia Katsiouri, Nancy Klabatsa, Sissy Orfanidi, Alkmini Basakarou, Ino Pikioni, Natalia Routsolia, Marina Skoura, Danai Stergiou 

Nancy Klabatsa ancient lyre, Maria Delaporta quanun, Irini Zoutsou santur, Sofia Katsiouri violoncello

Curator: Kornilios Selamsis

Chórεs ensemble leader: Marina Satti

Chórεs ensemble musical director and voice coach: Simela Emmanouilidou

Chórεs ensemble production manager: Nadia Samara

Novartis Hellas, true to their commitment for the support of women that have been diagnosed with breast cancer, presents the 5^th wave of the campaign ‘You are a woman, you are power!’, with music as the main vehicle. This year, they feature a surprising collaboration: the choir of ‘Chόrεs’, a female only, aged between 13-55 years old, artist academy (that was formed in 2017 by Marina Satti, with the aim to relive traditional songs in a unique way), spread out their own solidarity and women empowerment message.

Starting out from the polyphonic singing, ‘Chόrεs’, in a 60-second movie, experiment and deliver a complex artistic performance that incorporates theatrical and body movement elements. Moreover, they raise their voices along with other women of all ages, reminding them that they are not alone and that deep inside them lies the true power. It is a straight reference to the power of the women’s community, respecting the difference, no matter the age boundaries. Simultaneously, this is a move of high significance, since it highlights critical aspects for the fight against breast cancer, like the importance of expression, collaboration and participation in a community of solidarity.

The 5^th wave of the campaign ‘You are a woman, you are power!’, takes place under the auspices of the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology and the support of Alma Zois – Hellenic Organisation for Women with Breast Cancer, and its departments in Achaia and Thessaloniki. The campaign kicks off with a 360^ο marketing of public awareness, while seminars of holistic approach for women that suffer or have suffered from breast cancer will follow.

Τρίτη 27 Ιουλίου  Η παράσταση μουσικού θεάτρου Το τραγούδι της κυρα-Δομνίτσας, η οποία αποτελεί παραγωγή της Εναλλακτικής Σκηνής της Εθνικής Λυρικής Σκηνής παρουσιάστηκε στην Νάξο, στον Πύργο Μπαζαίου στο πλαίσιο του «Φεστιβάλ Νάξου 2021» .

Στα ταραχώδη χρόνια της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης, μια παραγνωρισμένη ηρωίδα του Αγώνα συνομιλεί με τον εαυτό της, την εποχή της και το σύγχρονο κοινό. Το τραγούδι της κυρα-Δομνίτσας αφηγείται με τον δικό του τρόπο –σε τέσσερις πράξεις με λόγο και μουσική– την ιστορία της Θρακιώτισσας καπετάνισσας και ηρωίδας της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης Δόμνας Βισβίζη.

Την ιστορία της Δόμνας Βισβίζη, σε μορφή μονολόγου με χορικά στάσιμα, αποδίδει με ευαισθησία η ηθοποιός Σύρμω Κεκέ και συνθέτει, με τα μέσα του μουσικού θεάτρου, μια γυναικεία δημιουργική ομάδα που αποτελείται από τη δημοσιογράφο / συγγραφέα Μάρω Βασιλειάδου, τη συνθέτρια Μάρθα Μαυροειδή, που συνυφαίνει με γνώση παραδοσιακά και σύγχρονα ακούσματα, και τη σκηνοθέτρια Μαρία Μαγκανάρη. Συμμετέχει επταμελές μουσικό σύνολο και το γυναικείο φωνητικό σύνολο chórεs.

Το τραγούδι της κυρα-Δομνίτσας χρησιμοποιεί ως πρώτη ύλη ιστορικά τεκμήρια (αρχειακές καταγραφές, μαρτυρίες της εποχής, έγγραφα, ημερολόγια πλοίου, επιστολές), τα οποία και επεξεργάζεται με ποικίλο συγγραφικό τρόπο, από τον δημοτικό δεκαπεντασύλλαβο ως τη βιωματική γραφή, με σκοπό να αποδώσει την εξωτερική πραγματικότητα των γεγονότων και την εσωτερική ζωή των προσώπων.

Ανάμεσα στα στημόνια των ιστορικών γεγονότων –χρόνια με ρομαντικές ιδέες, πατριωτικά οράματα, πικρές διαψεύσεις–, περνούν σαν κλωστές τα συμβάντα της ταραγμένης της προσωπικής ζωής: μητρότητα, χηρεία, οικονομική καταστροφή. Η Δόμνα υφαίνει τη μοίρα της μόνη της, μια «ευπειθής πατριώτισσα» που θυσίασε βιος και οικογένεια για «να χτιστεί το χρυσό παλάτι της Ελευθερίας». Στη νέα Ελλάδα, ανέστια και άπορη, με κόπο έλαβε μια στάλα βοήθεια. Ποτέ δεν ζήτησε, ούτε έλαβε τιμές για την προσφορά της στην πατρίδα. Πέρασε τα ύστερα χρόνια σε ένα σπιτάκι δίπλα στη θάλασσα του Πειραιά. Ίσως, το τελευταίο απόγευμα πριν φύγει από τη ζωή στα 67 της χρόνια, άναψε το καντήλι στο δωμάτιο και, λίγο πριν πέσει η νύχτα, άκουσε από το παράθυρο να φυσά ένα γνώριμο αεράκι φερμένο ψηλά από το Αιγαίο.

Η παραγωγή υλοποιείται με τη στήριξη της δωρεάς του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος (ΙΣΝ) [www.SNF.org] για τη δημιουργία του επετειακού προγράμματος της Εθνικής Λυρικής Σκηνής για τα 200 χρόνια από την Ελληνική Επανάσταση του 1821.

Info: Το τραγούδι της κυρα-Δομνίτσας
Εναλλακτική Σκηνή της Εθνικής Λυρικής Σκηνής
Μουσική: Μάρθα Μαυροειδή
Κείμενο: Μάρω Βασιλειάδου
Σκηνοθεσία: Μαρία Μαγκανάρη
Σκηνικό – Κοστούμια: Παύλος Θανόπουλος
Σχεδιασμός φωτισμών: Μαρία Γοζαδίνου
Μουσική διδασκαλία – Διεύθυνση φωνητικού συνόλου: Ειρήνη Πατσέα
Τον ρόλο της Δόμνας Βισβίζη ερμηνεύει η Σύρμω Κεκέ

Μουσικοί: Χάρης Λαμπράκης (νέυ), Νίκος Παραουλάκης (νέυ), Στρατής Ψαραδέλλης (λύρα), Μάρθα Μαυροειδή (σάζι, φωνή), Γιάννης Παπαδόπουλος (πιάνο), Γιώργος Ταμιωλάκης (τσέλο), Γιώργος Βεντουρής (κοντραμπάσο). Συμμετέχει το γυναικείο φωνητικό σύνολο chórεs.

Χώρος: Πύργος Μπαζαίου, Νάξος

Side by Side is a unique music project curated by the educational branch of Kypseli’s Municipal Market. The goal of the project is to empower the neighborhood’s voices and give the chance to the female students of the area to sing next to professionals and perform live, in front of a wider audience, a music programme that aims to bring us closer to our Greek music roots.

The educational project ‘Side by Side’ kicked off on 13^th June by inviting female students, aged between 10-15 years old, of schools based in Kypseli, to explore ways of expression and participate in a live show taking place in their neighborhood.

Thus, 15 young girls and 15 professional choristers from Chórεs, with Christina Poupalou as the conductor, rehearsed intensively on singing every week. With an optimistic feeling and a will for experimentation, the project concludes with a unique music programme, including Greek folk songs, on Sunday 11^th July. The entrance is free and the event is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture & Sports.

CHÓRES & Jasemi: “SIX” at the Ancient Theatre of Messini

The performance is based on songs that were composed in the 19^th century, are related to folklore, and follow both the annual cycle of festivities and the course of the adulthood of the woman as depicted in the folk tradition.

The performance “SIX”, presented under the Ministry of Culture and Sports’ programme “All of Greece, one Culture”, is based on songs recorded in the 19th century and associated with corresponding folk customs, which follow the annual cycle of festivities and the course of the adulthood of the woman as depicted in the folk tradition: from the customs of the perperuna (Greek folk tradition), the cradle, the vulture, the wedding, the tender lullaby and the heartbreaking Doom of the Virgin.

This is a series of works by Martha Mavroidi exclusively for voices, which use traditional songs as the first material, and process lyrics, melodies and patterns, creating a music of a new texture. The works assimilate melodic and poetic material from traditional monophonic songs, creating a new polyphony which is inspired by traditional music, combining it with modern harmony.

Artistic direction: Marina Satti

Director: Yiannis Panagopoulos

Composition – Music editing: Martha Mavroidi

Music Teaching – Conductor: Eirini Patsea

Choreography-  Movement coach: Sofia Konstantinidou

Costumes: Marilena Kalaitzantonaki

Recording: Yannis Damianos

Yasemi: Irini Derebei, Maria Melachrinou, Martha Mavroidi, Tasos Poulios

Chórεs: Despina Georga, Matina Gleni, Anastasia Evdaimon, Eleonora Zacharia, Natalia Katsimani, Chryssa Kleisiari, Irini Masali, Evelina Megalokonomou, Dafni Pagoulatou, Emily Papapetrou, Ino Pikioni, Katerina Chatziathanasiou

«Chórεs» are back with five new songs, composed and edited by Alexandros Kapsokavadis. The songs are influenced by anonymous musical traditions of the Mediterranean area, the Balkans, the central Europe and Caucasus. The combination of these music compositions with lyrics emerging from the Greek demotic poetry, and most precisely from Corfu, Kasos, Crete or the Messinian Mani, will take the listener through a journey on timeless themes, like lost passion, love, lamentation and lullaby. The five songs are veiled in mystery, with the first one being ‘I write for my passions’ and four more coming soon. You can listen to all of them via our YouTube channel. The songs are sang a capella, without any instruments, by the choir of Chórεs, that features 50 women of all ages, who add their own unique timbre, through the vocal pluralism and the interchange between solo and choir performance.

DIHOS MAHERIA KE SPATHIA – CHÓRES [ At AETHRION ]

Music: Alexandros Kapsokavadis

Lyrics: Compilation of folk poetry excerpts, from the book “The blood of love”, by Pantelis Boukalas

• Creative director: Marina Satti

• Μusic coaches: Eirini Patsea, Christina Poupalou, Simela Emmanouilidou

• Conductor: Eirini Patsea

• Movement coach: Sofia Konstantinidou

• Researcher: Yiannis Panagopoulos • Stylist: Marilena Kalaitzantonaki

• Recording & Mixing engineer: Yiannis Damianos

• Production managers: Nadia Samara, Thomais Triantafyllidou

• Director: Lexi Kiddo

• DP: Evan Maragkoudakis

• Editor: Lexi Kiddo & Yiannis Papanastasopoulos

• Colorist: Andrew Gordeev

• Steadicam OP: Stefanos Knapp

• Steadicam Assistant: Petros Kalfamanolis

• B-Unit OP: Konstantinos Kalavrezos

• 1AC: Steve Kekis

• Translation & Subtitling: Christina Metaxa

• Special Thanks: Ira Karagkouni, Margarita Dosoula, Giorgos Krikris, Markella Manoliadi & Metanira, DK Rental House, Achilleas Wastor, Martha Panaki, Anna Vernardou, Anastasia Stiniou, Janis Vakarelis & Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall Chóres: Despina Georga, Olga Giannakopoulou, Konstantina Giannopoulou, Varvara Gidopoulou, Liana Gkiozou, Matina Gleni, Emily Gousgouni, Marina Emmanouilidou, Simela Emmanouilidou, Eleonora Zacharia, Georgia Zachariadi, Irini Zoutsou, Maria Kazala, Maria Kampani, Irini Kampanou, Dimitra Karadimou, Georgia Karandinaki, Anastasia Karachristou, Natalia Katsimani, Chrysa Kleisiari, Despina Kontozani, Katerina Koutsonikola, Ariel Krarup, Vassiliki Konstantellou, Irini Masali, Anastasia Megalokonomou, Evelina Megalokonomou, Alkmini Basakarou, Panagiota Belia, Christina Bliouba, Stefanie Neofytou, Dafni Nikolaou, Vasso Deve, Sissy Orfanidi, Dafni Pagoulatou, Froso Papadakou, Irini Papazoglou, Nancy Papaioannou, Emilia Papapetrou, Ino Pikioni, Danai Politi, Chrysanthi Provata, Natalia Routsolia, Danai Stergiou, Thomais Triantafyllidou, Lina Troubouni, Eleni Tsami, Danai Chanta – Martin, Katerina Chatziathanasiou

The performance was video recorded at the Atrium of the Muses – Megaron, the Athens Concert Hall [ Athens, 5&6 July 2021 ]

More info here

“Why Bird don’t you sing” – transcription by Angelos Triantafyllou. Live broadcast by ERT3, The Representation of the explosion of Christos Kapsalis in Messolonghi. Directed by Irini Patsea.

chórεs:
Konstantina Giannopoulou, Marina Emmanouilidou, Eleonora Zacharia, Irini Zoutsou, Maria Kazala, Dimitra Karadimou, Despina Kontozani, Katerina Koutsonikola, Anastasia Konstantinidou, Anastasia Megalokonomaou, Alkmini Bassakarou, Nadia Samara, Thomas Triantafyllidou, Lina Troubouni, Danai Chanta – Martin

Conductor: Eirini Patsea

by Mikis Theodorakis

Epitaph and Dionysos are two important political works in religious form by the great Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis the Epitaph (1958) and Dionysos (1985), two political works in religious form which are rarely performed live and are presented by the Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera on the 21st of October 2020.

Due to the constraining measures for tackling the coronavirus pandemic, the concert will take place without the physical presence of an audience and will be broadcast live on ERT’s Second Program, thus giving the unique opportunity to listeners to enjoy these two great works by Mikis Theodorakis . Radio broadcaster: Kostas Thomaidis, sound engineer Makis Gigas.

Specifically, on Tuesday, October 20, at 19.00, Fotis Apergis will unfold the history of the Epitaph as a work that defined modern Greek songwriting and marked the creative unison of popular tradition to scholarly creations and the mingling of the worlds of the bourgeois and the left-wing intellectuals. Unknown incidents will be narrated, as well as testimonies of the first two historical recordings of the work interpreted by Nana Mouskouri and Grigoris Bithikotsis.

The Second Program will also host the main participants of the concert of the Alternative Stage of the NGO, who will talk about the ambitious project of presenting this contemporary version of the Epitaph and Dionysus. In this radio program excerpts from the rehearsals will be broadcast, thus giving the opportunity to listeners to delve into the creative process, just one day before the presentation of the two works of Mikis Theodorakis.

The Epitaph will be presented in a new orchestration by Giannis Belonis, while the work is performed by Betty Charlaftis, a singer with a long tenure in the composer’s repertoire. Dionysus presented again after decades, is played by Zacharias Karounis, one of the most important performers of the new generation. The eleven-member ensemble is conducted by Lisa Xanthopoulou. The vocal ensemble chórеs (Epitaph) and the ERT Choir (Dionysos) also participate.

Two traumatic moments in Greek history inspired the great Mikis Theodorakis to create an equal number of political works in religious form.

The bloody strike in Thessaloniki in 1936 and the poem of the same title by Giannis Ritsos  were the inspiration for the Epitaph, one of the most important and well-known works of the composer, which constitutes a real political and Greek Stabat mater.

December (1944) was the year for the creation of the lesser known but nonetheless also a masterpiece, Dionysus is a long lament for the sacrifice of teenage boys and girls who fell in the battle of Makrygiannis during the Civil War.

A few words about the projects

Epitaph (1958)

The death of the motorist Tassos Tousis during the strikes of the tobacco workers in Thessaloniki in 1936 and especially the photo of the mother mourning over the lifeless body of her child which was published the following day in the newspaper Rizospastis,, inspired Giannis Ritsos to write a series of poems with the title Epitaph. Theodorakis composed music for eight poems from the collection, in 1958, in Paris. The paradox is that two years later, in 1960, two recordings were made almost simultaneously. One is an orchestration by Manos Hadjidakis with singer Nana Mouskouri and the other is an orchestration by Mikis Theodorakis with singer Grigoris Bithikotsis, who was the one who went down in history and brought a real revolution in Greek song. The composition of Theodorakis, who manages to portray musically every word of Ritsos’s sensational lyrics, the mingling of high poetry with traditional sounds and the bouzouki, but also the moving interpretation of Bithikotsis, characterize this groundbreaking work of Greek discography.

In their current version, the eight songs are played without interruption, forming an unbroken cycle of songs. The lament of the mother (soloist) fuses with the mourning song of the female choir, while the introductory part of the song “May Day” returns as an “obsession” (idée fixe) throughout the work, indicating the procession of the last farewell.

Faithful, despite the unprecedented circumstances, to its annual, long-standing date with the public on New Year’s Eve, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center will welcome the New Year with a rich and varied program that will be transmitted online through live streaming, as well as televised live by ERT2. The event will be hosted by actress Nandia Kontogeorgi.

The evening’s festivities will begin at 22:30 with a special artistic program in association with the Greek National Opera. The GNO will perform excerpts from great works of opera, ballet and symphonic music, as well as Christmas hymns and carols. From the Stavros Niarchos Hall to the Alternative Stage and the rehearsal suites, the Orchestra, the Ballet, and distinguished soloists, joined by the ΜεῙΖοΝ Ensemble and Marina Satti’s chórεs, will lead us into a festive journey with stops at the Christmas atmosphere of La boheme, the colorful world of Don Quixote, the dawning of Christmas day from The Mother’s Ring, the Viennese Waltzes of The Merry Widow and the “Macedonian dance” by Nikos Skalkotas.

After midnight, and a spectacular show of fireworks and Dancing Fountains at the Canal, stay tuned because coming up next are the ERT National Radio Contemporary Music Orchestra to revive famous Broadway musicals, Gumbo Ya Ya featuring Sugahspank! to sweep you up into the rhythms of New Orleans jazz & blues, and Palov to get you into the party mood with a DJ set dedicated to music of the Caribbean. Let’s all welcome 2021 together, even if we’re apart, with wonderful images and sounds that will reach into every home, in every corner of Greece.

The New Year’s Eve line-up of events includes: 

• “Lippen schweigen” from Franz Lehar’s operetta The Merry Widow

Count Danilo Danilovitsch: Tasis Christogiannopoulos

Hanna Glawari: Vasiliki Karagianni

GNO Orchestra

Musical Direction: Ilias Voudouris

• “Macedonian Dance” from Nikos Skalkotas’ 36 Greek Dances (first series)

• “The dawning of Christmas” from Manolis Kalomiris’ The Mother’s Ring

GNO Orchestra

Musical Direction: Ilias Voudouris

• La boheme by Giacomo Puccini, excerpts from the Second Act

Rodolfo: Giannis Christopoulos, Mimi: Anna Stylianaki, Marcelllo, Dionysios Sourbis, Schaunard: Nikos Kotenidis, Colline: Tasos Apostolou, Musette: Miranda Makrynioti, Alcindoro: Giannis Giannisis

Piano: Sofia Tamvakopoulou

• Pas de deux, from Ludwig Minkus’ Don Quixote

Soloists: Eleana Andreoudi, Vangelis Bikos (Principal Dancers of the GNO Ballet)

Choreography: Thiago Bordin, based on Marius Petipa

• Performance on the Alternative Stage

The empty hall of the Alternative Stage comes alive at night, after the guard has made his final round. The seats leave their posts and watch beloved excerpts from operettas, performed just for them by strange monodists.

Excerpts from Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow, and Theophrastos Sakellaridis’ Picnic

Musical Direction: Ilias Voudouris

Concept, Direction: Alexandros Efklidis, Christina Spanou

Costumes: Christina Spanou

Performers: Dimitris Paksoglou, tenor, Irena Athanasiou, mezzo-soprano

Participants: Eleftheria Stamou, Hector Bolano, Lefteris Charellis

Joined by a 7-member instrumental ensemble of GNO musicians

• ΜεῙΖοΝ Ensemble

“What shall we do with the drunken sailor”, traditional Irish song

“The Virgin Today”, Christmas hymn set to music by Themistoklis Polykratis (1863-1926)

Musical Direction: Agathangelos Georgakatos

• Marina Satti’s chórεs

Three traditional Christmas carols, in adaptations by Martha Mavroidi

• Special guests: the Military Band of the Supreme Military Support Command

Santa Claus is coming to town

Christmas Medley

Band Leader: Major Nikolaos Lafatas

• Broadway Musicals by the ERT Greek Radio Contemporary Music Orchestra

Soloists: Nandia Kontogeorgi, Vassia Zacharopoulou, Thodoris Voutsikakis

• GUMBO YA YA feat. Sugahspank!

Gumbo Ya Ya present a concert-party with jazz & blues straight from New Orleans. The music of Gumbo Ya Ya fuses uplifting rhythms with the joyful funky dimension of brass instruments, with Sugahspank! adding her deep, soulful voice to the mix to complete the recipe.

• DJ set with Palov

Get the party started in your living room and welcome 2021 with DJ Palov on the decks, playing a set of latin, cumbia, afro, jazz, funk, hip hop, disco and reggae music, which will soon have even the most reluctant dancing the night away!

More info here

Operetta by Theofrastos Sakellaridis

Chórεs performed in the hilarious operetta Sataneri by Theofrastos Sakellaridis which inaugurated the third cycle of the Musical Theater Days 2019 at the Alternative Stage of the National Opera. The performance restored for the first time the original orchestration of 1930.

Satanerie is a morality play that contrasts hell with paradise and advocates, just as boldly and ironically as Mahagony, the benefits of modern immorality over traditional morality. Based on his own original idea, Sakellaridis mixes romantic arias with traditional greek songs, rebetika, blues and fox trot and satirizes the current, as well as timeless Greek impunity, through the story of Andreas, an unfortunate fellow,  who at the crossroads of virtue and evil, chooses the second, after having been toured to the underworld by Satan himself!

Arrangement- musical direction:
Kharálampos Goyós

Stage Direction:
Alexandros Efklidis, Dimitris Dimopoulos

Sets- Costume Designer:
Alexia Theodoraki

Choreography:
Fotis Dimakipoulos

Lighting:
Christos Tziogkas

Vocal Ensemble chórεs mistress:
Marina Satti

Satan
Myrto Bokolini

Andreas:
Dimitris Nalbandis

Pamikos:
Giannis Kavouras

Synapiko:

Maria Katrivesi

Xenokratis:
Kostis Rasidakis

Tsitsiplis:
Panos Zygouros

Leader of the spirits, Eleni
Christina AsimakopoulouSecretary
Alina Kostovoulou

More info here