GNO to stage much-loved Gluck classic following an opera soiree
For the first time in its long history, the Greek National Opera (GNO) is staging Christoph Willibald Gluck’s (1714 – 1787) «Orpheus and Eurydice,» with a libretto by Pierre-Louis Moline, in the Parisian version of 1774, featuring a tenor in the lead role. The new production, which will be conducted by maestro Giorgos Petrou and directed by Stephen Langridge, will run for seven performances starting on January 26 at the Olympia Theater. The role of the enchanting Orpheus will be performed by Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth (who recently collaborated with the Royal Opera) and his beloved Eurydice by Elena Kelesidou. Eros, who comes to the doomed couple’s rescue at the last minute, will be interpreted by Vassiliki Karayianni, while sets and costumes are designed by Giorgos Souglidis and the choreography is by Foris Nikolaou. Performances will be held on January 26, 28 and 31, and February 2, 4, 7 and 9. Tickets will range from -20-60. An evening of popular arias and wonderful compositions, performed by distinguished Greek artists, has also been organized by the GNO for January 21. Dedicated to the great composers of the 19th and 20th century, the concert will feature some of Greece’s most renowned soloists. The New Hellenic Quartet, with Giorgos Emmanouil Lazaridis on the piano, will start the evening with works by Brahms. Soprano Dimitris Theodosiou, accompanied by pianist Dimitris Giakas, will sing Bianca’s «Sorgi, o padre» from Bellini’s «Bianca e Fernando,» as well as Leonora’s arias «D’amor sull’ali rosee» from Verdi’s «Il Trovatore,» the aria «Depuis le jour» by Charpentier, an extract from Spyros Samaras’s «Rea,» the aria «Pace, pace mio Dio!» from Verdi’s «La Forza del Destino» and a scene from «Macbeth.» At the same concert, soprano Katerina Costa, again with Giakas on the piano, will perform Rusalka’s aria from the opera of the same title by Dvorak, and Maria Vlachopoulou a Donizetti aria, while the New Hellenic Quartet will play the «Dance of the Fauns» by Dimitris Mitropoulos.
