Greek National Opera

Recitals at archaeological sites throughout Greece continue on Thursday at the Roman Agora of ancient Delphi with the participation of soloists from the Greek National Opera. Thursday's performance will include nine distinguished soloists in famous arias from operas and operettas and classical cantatas with subjects drawn from ancient Greek mythology and Greek literature.

Prominent Greek soprano Jeannette Pilou, whose career included performances at international stages and the Greek National Opera, died on Monday at the age of 83, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.

Pilou was born in Alexandria, Egypt, of Greek parents and debuted in Milan in 1958.

As part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, the Greek National Opera has commissioned composer Yiorgos Vassilandonakis to write a new opera based on Emmanouel Rhoides' controversial 1866 novel "The Papess Joanne." Regarded as heretical at the time of its publication, the novel explores the fascinating legend of Papess Joan and argues that the Catholic Church covered up her existence.

Italian Mezzo-soprano Romina Basso, a leading performer of Vivaldi's work, will be joined by the Camerata Friends of Music Orchestra under award-winning maestro Markellos Chryssicos on the main stage of the Greek National Opera at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens on Monday, February 10.

Soprano Myrsini Margariti and pianist Effie Agrafioti present "Greek Muse: Songs by Greek Female Composers and Female Composers of Greek Decent" at the Aris Garoufalis Hall of the Athens Conservatoire in downtown Athens on Saturday, February 8. The concert is part of a series co-organized by the Greek National Opera's Alternative Stage and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

Greek contralto Marita Paparizou will be on stage at the Greek National Opera's Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens on Sunday, February 2. The concert is titled "At the Wise King's Court," a reference to Spanish king Alfonso X of Castile, also known as Alfonso the Wise.

French playwright and director Olivier Py breathes new life into Alban Berg's internationally acclaimed opera "Wozzeck," which is on stage at the Greek National Opera's Stavros Niarchos Hall in southern Athens. GNO baritone Tassis Christoyannis stars in the title role and Vassilis Christopoulos conducts the GNO Orchestra.

The Patari Project physical theater company presents its rendition of Vivaldi's timeless "Four Seasons," a musical performance aimed at children and young audiences, on the Greek National Opera's Alternative Stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens.

French playwright and director Olivier Py breathes new life into Alban Berg's internationally acclaimed opera "Wozzeck," which is on stage at the Greek National Opera's Stavros Niarchos Hall in southern Athens for five performances between January 19 and February 2. GNO baritone Tassis Christoyannis stars in the title role and Vassilis Christopoulos conducts the GNO Orchestra.

Composer Giorgos Kouroupos turns Stefan Zweig's 1929 short story "Leporella" into an opus for the Greek National Opera's alternative stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens. The opera is in Greek and will be accompanied by English surtitles.