Maria Callas tribute on Pnyx Hill
As the world mourns the loss of Luciano Pavarotti, an artist who is credited with making opera accessible to a broad public, 2007 marks 30 years since the death of opera’s first truly international star, Maria Callas. Greece has named the current year as the Maria Callas Year with a number of events paying tribute to La Divina. Part of this tribute is an upcoming concert scheduled to take place on Sunday on the Hill of Pnyx near the Acropolis. Organized by the City of Athens Cultural Organization, the event features two eminent opera soloists, Greek soprano Dimitra Theodosiou and Italy’s Fulvio Oberto. Both artists are well known for their vocal and dramatic skills on stage when interpreting bel canto, including popular works by Verdi, Puccini and Bellini. On Pnyx, the vocalists will be accompanied by the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra and Mixed Choir, under the baton of maestro Nikos Athinaios. Admission to the performance is free and those wishing to attend are invited to gather at the ancient site by 8.30 p.m., half an hour before the beginning of the concert. Sponsoring Sunday’s event are Eurobank, the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and the Mytilinaios group.
