Greek music and theater in store at the Megaron
Composer Stamatis Kraounakis’s take on Bertolt Brecht’s «Mother Courage,» has not been included in this season’s Athens Concert Hall schedule after all. The musical, based on the well-known Brecht play, was originally supposed to star celebrated Greek vocalist Marinella with stage direction by Nikos Mastorakis. Apart from this setback, however, the Athens Concert Hall program still offers a plethora of music and theater productions featuring Greek artists. Going on stage are Nonika Galinea, Maria Farandouri, Costas Kastanas, Dimitra Galani, Chronis Aidonidis, Eleni Karaindrou, Giorgos Dalaras, Olia Lazaridou and Amalia Moutousi, among others. Coming up next month, actress Olia Lazaridou will co-direct – together with Maria Nikolakopoulou – and star alongside Amalia Moutousi, Varvara Lazaridou, Giorgos Velentzas, Vassilis Karaboula and Giorgos Tsoularis in «Time is a Closed Door.» The production was written by Theofanous Kaloyiannis with set designs by Lili Pezanou. (Performances on October 22, 23 and 24.) Livanelli tribute Renowned Greek vocalist Maria Farandouri will appear at the Athens Concert Hall on November 5, on the occasion of a concert tribute to Turkish leading singer/songwriter Zulfu Livanelli. Titled «New Age Rhapsody,» the evening will feature 12 songs for Farandouri, solo instruments and a string orchestra. The Volos Symphony Orchestra will be directed by Semyon Kogan. Also in November, renowned Greek composer Eleni Karaindrou will present «David,» a stage cantata. This will be complemented with her original score for a production of Euripides’ «Trojan Women.» The performances are scheduled for November 13 and 14. Periklis Koukos’s musical fairy tale «Merlin: The Magician on Pirate Island» will take the Athens Concert Hall stage during the Christmas season. Interpreted by the Camerata Orchestra and various opera singers, the story will be narrated by Costas Kastanas. Dimitra Galani’s dulcet voice will take over the Athens Concert Hall on February 10 and 11. Accompanied by the Camerata Orchestra under the baton of Alexandros Myrat, the popular Greek singer will interpret old and new favorites. Commemorating 20 years since the death of Vassilis Tsitsanis, a leading figure of rebetika and old-school laika music, Giorgos Dalaras will present a concert-tribute in January of 2004 (January 12-17). The production will be directed by actor/director Stamatis Fasoulis and choreographed by Leonidas De Pian. Seasoned Greek actress Nonika Galinea will interpret Arthur Honegger’s «Jeanne d’Arc au Bucher» oratorio, based on a text by Paul Claudel. The production is scheduled to take place on February 25 and 26 and will be directed by Thomas Moschopoulos with set designs by the Oscar-winning Dionysis Fotopoulos. Lastly, a tribute to Chronis Aidonidis’s 50-year dedication to Greek folk tradition is currently in the works. Organized by Giorgos Kostantzas, the event’s date is yet to be announced. Athens Concert Hall, 1 Kokkali & Vas. Sofias, tel 210.728.2000. (Reservations for all events should be made well in advance at tel 210.728.2150 or via the Internet at www.megaron.gr.)
