Selection: Michalis Katsigeras

OPERA HOUSE RENOVATED: Yesterday evening the National Opera staged a gala performance of Verdi’s “Aida” in the newly renovated Olympia Theater. The performance was attended by the king and queen with Princess Sophia, Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis, Cabinet members, diplomats and other officials, along with many celebrities from the arts and letters. “Aida” was directed by Remo della Pergola and choreographed by Angela Grimani. The orchestra was conducted by Andreas Paridis. It featured Rena Kanaki in the title role, who more than lived up to the audience’s expectations. The baritone Dino Doddi made a great impression on the audience. Doddi was born in Bologna in 1926 and before beginning his opera career worked as an ironmonger and mechanic in his home town. He studied in Bologna and Milan with the famous baritone Riccardo Stracciari and made his debut in “Rigoletto” in 1945 at La Scala in Milan. He then appeared at the Florence Festival in “La forza del destino” with “Aida” director della Pergola and has sung in several opera houses around the world.