Two institutions get closer

National Opera to enjoy more permanent presence at the Athens Concert Hall for major productions

DIMITRIS RIGOPOULOS

The collaboration between the Athens Concert Hall and the National Opera is about to enter a new chapter.

Though official announcements are not expected before next month, it is clear that the two institutions are expected to develop stronger ties. Until now, the Athens Concert Hall hosted performances co-produced by both institutions.

From now on, the National Opera will have a permanent presence in two halls, presenting most of its major productions.

Announcements will be made in May, in the presence of the National Opera’s new creative director, Stefanos Lazaridis, who is currently in London working on the last part of Wagner’s tetralogy “Ring of Niblung,” which opens at Covent Garden this week.

Meanwhile, the Athens Concert Hall recently announced its schedule for the upcoming season.

The first cycle of the “Great Orchestras” series includes major ensembles and distinguished soloists.

Expected in Greece are the Swiss Roman Orchestra, the Hamburg NDR Symphony Orchestra, the Baden-Baden Symphony Orchestra and Freiburg SWR (featuring soloist Helene Grimaud on piano), the Cologne Philharmonic and Guerzenich Orchestra, the French National Orchestra (under the baton of Kurt Masur and featuring soloist Leonidas Kavakos), the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Maris Yanson) as well as the Dresden Staatskapelle (with soloist Radu Lupu). The “Great Interpreters” series include the celebrated pianist Mitsuko Uchida (in her first appearance in Athens), the Borodin Quartet in a Dmitri Shostakovich tribute (2007 will mark 100 years since the composer’s birth) and a recital by vocalist Dmitri Hvorostovsky.

Other highlights include a tribute to the myth of Electra, an appearance by the Zurich Ballet, a series of recitals by famed vocalist Haris Alexiou (February 2007), “The History of Rebetiko” by George Dalaras (May 2007) and a new collaboration with the Evgenidion Institution (Planetarium).

Also getting an upgrade is the Athens State Orchestra (KOA).

“The aim is to present the quality of KOA’s work in relation to international productions,” said Nikos Tsouchlos, the Athens Concert Hall’s creative director.

Besides its regular cycle of concerts, the orchestra will collaborate with the concert hall on several occasions: an opera gala featuring Anna Tomowa-Sintow, “Swan Lake” by the State Opera of Kiev, Richard Strauss’s “Electra” (with Agnes Baltsa as Clytemnestra) and the Greek Music Celebrations.