Megaron set for Christmas
All is set at the Athens Concert Hall for the venue’s customary series of festive season performances which, this year, include a musical based on Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s legendary tale «The Little Prince,» projections of classic Hollywood musical cartoons, the ballet «Giselle» with internationally renowned dancers, and an exhibit of rare, old musical instruments. Tickets for all events, except the ballet, have already sold out. The agenda was presented at a recent news conference by the its artistic director, Nikos Tsouchlos. Titled «Once Upon a Time There Was a Little Prince,» the performance, which combines recitals of writings, music and dance for a new approach on the French writer’s work, is scheduled for five performances – Sunday, December 23, 27, 28 and 30. It is directed by Thomas Moschopoulos, the music was written by Tassis Christoyiannopoulos, while the theatrical adaptation of the songs is by Martha Toboulidou. Back for a further eight performances after a successful stint last year, «Giselle» will be performed on Sunday, Monday and December 25-30. Its cast will alternate Diana Vishneva in the title role with the young and accomplished dancer Svetlana Zaharova (in her Athens debut), and Vladimir Malakhov will pair up as Albrecht with Igor Zelensky. The production’s other roles will be performed by cast members from the Athens State Opera, and Corps de Ballet of the Sofia State Opera. A concurrent event at the venue’s Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall on Sunday, Monday and December 26, 28 and 29, «Musical Fables» will feature Sergei Prokofiev’s «Peter and the Wolf,» narrated by Irini Inglesi, as well as Thanos Mikroutsikos’s «Say It With a Fable,» a musical adaptation of writer Selma Lagerloef’s «The Wonderful Adventures of Nils,» to be narrated by Gerasimos Gennatas. Commenting on the upcoming performances at the news conference, Mikroutsikos noted that he «dedicated them to my four children, and to the children of the world.» Classic Hollywood musical cartoons, including «Cat Concerto,» «What’s Opera Doc,» «The Long-Haired Hare,» «Corny Concerto,» «Magical Maestro» and «Symphony Hour,» will be shown on December 25-27 and 29-30. As a side event, the Athens Concert Hall has put together an exhibition of rare, old musical instruments, including old musical boxes. Titled «Invisible Musicians,» it runs until January 20.
