Classical music

Athens-born singer-songwriter Arleta died Tuesday morning at the age of 72 at an Athens hospital where she had been in the intensive care unit after suffering a severe stroke. She rose to international fame as an icon of the Greek new wave scene.

Popular writer duo Thanasis Papathanasiou and Michalis Reppas have adapted Nikos Kazantzakis's emblematic novel "Zorba the Greek" for the stage in a Greek production currently touring the country directed by veteran Stamatis Fassoulis and starring high-caliber Grigoris Valtinos in the title role.

Contemporary folk singer Kalliopi Vetta and musician Haig Yazdjian, who blends traditional and modern sounds, teamed up several months back for appearances at different venues around Greece with a show that both highlights their individual careers and bridges their disparate elements.

Local ensemble Artefacts pays tribute to the iconic rock/folk songwriter and performer Frank Zappa with a concert in the foyer of the Olympia Theater on Sunday, July 9, starting at 9 p.m. The musicians are planning a show that not only includes some of Zappa's greatest songs, but also evokes the signature style of his concerts. Tickets cost 5-15 euros.

The 60th edition of the Philippi Festival showcases young, talented artists, while also paying homage to director Theodoros Terzopoulos and the choral works of Mikis Theodorakis.

Turkey's world renowned pianist İdil Biret will interpret Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov's works at Rahmaninov's Museum House in the Russian city of Tambov.

The 60th edition of the Philippi Festival opens its arms to young, talented artists, while also paying homage to director Theodoros Terzopoulos and Mikis Theodorakis' choral works.

The 14th Bodrum International Gümüşlük Classical Music Festival is set to be held between July 24 and Sept. 4. Organized by the Bodrum Classical Music Association, the festival will be in three different concepts this year. 

The Greek Festival (www.greekfestival.gr) has invited piano duo Stefanos Nasos and Apostolos Palios and percussionists Marios Nikolaou and Marinos Tranoudakis to present a performance showcasing the winning combination of piano and percussion, at the Olympia Theater on Monday, June 26, starting at 9 p.m.

Maria Farantouri will perform at the open-air Herod Atticus Theater on Thursday, June 22. In this first part of the program, the acclaimed Greek vocalist will be joined by soloists Anja Lechner (violoncello), Meri Vardanyan (qanon), Christos Barbas (ney) and Izzet Kizil (percussion) in works written for her voice by Turkish composer Cihan Turkoglu with lyrics by Agathi Dimitrouka.