Matter of France

George Petrou presents a new take on Handel's "Alcina," combining modern aspects with the extravagance of Baroque opera, conjuring a fairy-tale, magical world at the Herod Atticus Theater on July 6 and 12 as part of the Athens Festival.

German prosecutors are investigating shots fired at the car of a German-Turkish football player while he was driving near the west German city of Aachen late on Jan. 7, the prosecutors said on Jan. 8.

French President Emmanuel Macron received the prestigious German Charlemagne Award for "his strong vision for a new Europe and the rediscovery of the European project," the France press reported, referring to the Aachen City Hall.

Joyeuse is the name tradition attributed to Charlemagne’s personal sword. Some legends claim Joyeuse was forged using shards of the holy Lance of Longinus, the spear that was stabbed into Jesus’ side as he hung dead on the cross. Others say the blade was smithed from the same materials as Roland’s “Durendal” and Ogier’s “Curtana”.

The publication of a new anthology on Greek theater by British specialists Oberon and Athens's Sokolis comes as a welcome dose of good news in the crisis-hit art world.