Greek National Opera

The Greek National Opera (364 Syngrou) presents a groundbreaking double bill, pairing Rachmaninoff's "Aleko" and Bartok's "Bluebeard's Castle" for the first time. This rare staging brings together two powerful one-act operas, each exploring the complexities of the human psyche.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the establishment of Greece’s first Higher School of Performing Arts during his address to the Council of Ministers. This new institution will incorporate the National Theatre, the Greek National Opera, the Northern Greece State Theatre, the Thessaloniki Conservatory, and the State School of Dance.

Legislation establishing Greece's first state-run university-level school for the performing arts will be presented at a cabinet meeting on Thursday before being put to public consultation and then heading to Parliament for ratification.

The Greek National Opera's Alternative Stage (364 Syngrou) presents "Isadora Duck," an imaginative musical inspired by the dancer and choreographer Isadora Duncan and ideal for the whole family. Based on Thessaloniki writer Stella Michailidou's fairy tale, the show merges "The Ugly Duckling" with "Swan Lake," blending Hans Christian Andersen's story with Tchaikovsky's ballet.

The Greek National Opera's (364 Syngrou) new season opens with a double bill of Christoph Willibald Gluck's "Iphigenia in Aulis" and "Iphigenia in Tauris." A collaboration with the Aix-en-Provence Festival and Paris National Opera, the production, directed by the acclaimed Dmitri Tcherniakov, explores the myth of the Atreides and Gluck's dramatic realism.

The news came from the opposite shore of the Aegean, from Ayvalik: the ancestral home of Elias Venezis, a prominent Greek writer of the past century, is on the verge of collapse. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence.

American-born, lyric coloratura soprano Nadine Sierra is one of the brightest stars in today's operatic firmament. Her glorious, sensuous vocal instrument - without hint of the dryness often present in this type of voice - is combined with considerable acting skills and looks to kill: a combination of Hollywood and the pages of Vogue.

The Greek National Opera has presented its program for 2024-25, which will include a series of new and older productions that, according to its artistic director, Giorgos Koumendakis, attempt to break with stereotypes and conservatism, while at the same time showing extroversion.

Conductor Yorgos Ziavras embarked on a musical odyssey 11 years ago, departing Greece in pursuit of a classical music career. His departure underscores a lamentable reality: Greece's lack of investment in cultural education. However, despite this neglect, the melodies of its musical heritage are a profound source of inspiration, even for the classical repertoire.

The Greek National Opera (264 Syngrou) revitalizes Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's iconic masterpiece, "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny." This 20th-century opera, set in Germany's Weimar Republic, offers a sharp critique of capitalism amid a world of excess. Weill's eclectic score, featuring hits like "Alabama Song," blends jazz and ragtime, ensuring timeless relevance.