An artistic September
A successful, concert was held to raise money for the 30 teams of firefighters on Samos. It was organized by the prefecture of Samos and the fifth Manolis Kalomiris Festival, which was transferred to Athens for the occasion. The program included Kalomiris’s work O Thanatos tis Antreiomenis (The death of the Fearless Woman) and a concerto for piano by Mikis Theodorakis, skillfully performed by soloist Eleni Mouzala and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Budapest under the baton of Ilias Voudouris. As holidaymakers return to Athens, the rest of the festival looks very promising. September is the best month, with pleasant temperatures removing any fear of hot marble seats, though bringing a threat of rain. On September 5 the New York City Ballet is performing at 8.30 p.m. to the accompaniment of the National Opera’s orchestra. The proceeds will go toward the establishment of the Halandri American-Greek Arts Center, which is a project of the American Community Schools. Mr. and Mrs. Lavidas are giving a dinner in honor of the New York City Ballet after the performance at their home in Kifissia. Next to host a reception for a visiting dance company (the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater) will be US Charge d’Affaires ad interim, Michael Cleverley and his wife Seiza, at their home in Psychico on the evening of September 23. As you read this, Helbi will be in Hania, Crete, as a guest of MP Dora Bakoyianni at the wedding of her daughter Alexia to Dimitris Zafeiriadis. The ceremony will take place in the cathedral and the reception will be at the home of the former prime minister and honorary chairman of the New Democracy party, Constantinos Mitsotakis. Overseeing it all will be Marika Mitsotaki, who is delighted to see the first of her many grandchildren getting married. Best wishes to the young couple.
