Classical music

As part of the 9th International Istanbul Opera Festival, Nikos Kazancakis' world famous opera, 'Zorba the Greek' was on the stage on July 7 at Zorlu PSM with the music of Mikis Theodorakis and choreography of Lorca Massine. The work was staged by the Ankara State Opera and Ballet. The festival will end on July 10.

Turkish capital Ankara's Polyphonic Choir will represent Turkey in well-known Béla Bartok International Choir Competition in Hungary which is one of the most important choral events that leads "competition of competitions," European Choral Grand Prix.

The Athens Conservatory's Aris Garoufalis Concert Hall will be hosting a tribute to Claude Debussy from July 3-6, marking the centenary of the great French composer's death.

Award-winning maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev conducts the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (TSO), the historic Russian ensemble which he has led as artistic director since 1974, in works by the celebrated composer for two Greek Festival shows at the Herod Atticus Theater in central Athens.

The TSO will be joined by the distinguished, award-winning Russian pianist Varvara Nepomnyashchaya.

As part of the Greek Festival, the Greek National Opera returns with George Bizet's "Carmen." In this production, acclaimed British director Stephen Langridge presents a modern adaptation of the classic tale, setting it in the context of Europe's migration and economic crisis. The performance will take place at the Herod Atticus Theater on July 27, 28, 29 and 31 July, at 9 p.m.

"I'll put it simply: 'Perouze' is made for the Herod Atticus Theater. Shortish, in two acts of 45 minutes each, it is theatrical and has very interesting music with a variety of influences - Viennese operetta, Greek folk songs, the Doric harmonies of Byzantine music - and of course its cliches.

In a tribute to Czech composers Bedrich Smetana and Antonin Dvorak, the Prague Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Petr Altrichter, presents Smetana's symphonic poem "The Moldau" and Dvorak's New World Symphony, composed in America and expressing the composer's nostalgia for his country.

German artist Patrizia Bach's first solo exhibition in Istanbul, titled "Archive Works," will open on May 12 at DEPO-Istanbul, giving an overview of Bach's work over the past 10 years.

Crossover artist Mario Frangoulis breathes new life into works by composer Mikis Theodorakis at the Athens Concert Hall on Wednesday, May 9. The collaboration between the two began 20 years ago, when Theodorakis taught Frangoulis his landmark work "Axion Esti" for a performance conducted by the composer himself at the Herod Atticus Theater.

The London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most widely traveled classical institutions, announced on May 4 that it would tour South America for the first time.