2024 03 01 Some prefer it blue - 200 years since the birth of Édouard Lalo
Two seminal works of American serious music: the mysterious Unanswered Question by the pioneering Charles Ives and George Gershwin's jazz-inspired Rhapsody in Blue, are juxtaposed against two European masterpieces: Arnold Schoenberg’s expressionistically passionate Transfigured Night and French Romantic composer Édouard Lalo's virtuosic Spanish Symphony for violin and orchestra. The performances will be led by maestro Kornilios Michailidis, a conductor known for interpretations that reach deep, while the Athens State Orchestra will also be joined by two equally distinguished Greek soloists.
2024 02 17 Journey to the centre of Music - the overture
A series of interactive concerts which seeks to shed light on everything that connects contemporary audiences with symphonic music, making its timeless repertoire more approachable to everyone, whether they are newcomers to the form or music lovers who are already fans. Video, Talks and Music are combined to provide a dramatized portrait of a different symphonic genre each time. Historical facts both well-known and unfamiliar, personal stories, hidden symbolisms and motifs, and the structural magic of the works are presented in an entertaining way.
2024 02 16 Journey to the centre of Music - the overture
A series of interactive concerts which seeks to shed light on everything that connects contemporary audiences with symphonic music, making its timeless repertoire more approachable to everyone, whether they are newcomers to the form or music lovers who are already fans. Video, Talks and Music are combined to provide a dramatized portrait of a different symphonic genre each time. Historical facts both well-known and unfamiliar, personal stories, hidden symbolisms and motifs, and the structural magic of the works are presented in an entertaining way.
2023 12 29 New Year's Eve in Paris
The appointment of the Athens State Orchestra with the audience of the Megaron on New Year’s Eve is an established musical institution, inextricably linked to the festive Christmas season and the joyful welcoming of the New Year. This year, the subject of the long-awaited New Year’s gala is the French opera. Although less famous and widespread compared to the Italian opera, French opera is today widely recognised, with many enchanting arias and brilliant orchestral excerpts being particularly popular and loved by the general public. Many of them, among the most recognizable and entertaining, will be heard at tonight’s gala, performed by four eminent lyrical singers under the guidance of seasoned conductor Myron Michaelides.
2024 01 19 Liszt and Greek Mythology
The Georgian pianist Eliso Virsaladze has been a major player on the international music scene for decades and has been called one of the greatest pianists of our era. The great Sviatoslav Richter made no secret of the fact that he considered her an ideal interpreter of Schumann, and this certainly adds still greater import to her performance of the great German Romantic's concerto with the Athens State Orchestra. On the podium for the concert will be the young Lithuanian conductor, Izabelė Jankauskaitė, who, though still at the start of her career, already has significant distinctions and performances to her credit.
On the banks of the Vltava - 200 years since the birth of Smetana
The music scene enjoys a constant and invigorating stream of young artists who, having earned their laurels when still very young, can sweep audiences away with performances that combine vigour with a youthful freshness. Having both won prestigious prizes at some of the world's most demanding international competitions, the Canadian-American violinist Timothy Chooi and the South Korean cellist Jaemin Han undoubtedly fall into this category. Alongside them, the elder statesman of Greek serious music, Byron Fidetzis, frames their youth with his invaluable experience in a programme which includes three symphonic poems from the Romantic opus magnum of the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana in this, the bicentenary of his birth.
In memoriam
Soloist's participation to the concert has been provided with the kind grant of Alexandros Sofianos in memoriam of his father, Kostis Sofianos. Part of the revenue of the concert will be granted to the Kouloureion Philanthropic and Hospital "Παναγία Φανερωμένη" Foundation of Hydra.
2023 09 29 Classic Rock 7
For six consecutive years the Classic Rock concerts are sold out! Over 32,000 people have so far seen the rock... otherwise! Classic Rock 7 returns to Herodion with strong guests ambassadors of the original Rock sound, a strong orchestra and the greatest rock hits.
This year's guests are charismatic personalities !!!
DAVE EVANS, the first singer and co-founder of the legendary band AC/DC, 50 years since their formation, will perform songs such as TNT and Highway to hell as well as covers that AC/DC played on their first tour !!!
JUSTIN HAYWARD, the original unsurpassed voice of the MOODY BLUES, with unique tracks such as Nights in White Satin and Tuesday Afternoon. The Moody Blues' unique style of music has been a constant presence on the radio throughout the years and continues to light up concert arenas worldwide.
MAGGIE REILLY, the lead voice of MIKE OLDFIELD's band, who performed the famous tracks Moonlight shadow and To France. In addition to her favorite hits with Mike Oldfield, she will also perform the all-time famous track Everytime you touch, which launched her career in 1992, as well as other hits of her own.
And the experience takes off with the powerful symphonic sound of the Athens State Orchestra and the electric band with:
Damopoulos Kostantinos: Keyboards
Kalantzakos Thodoris: Electric Guitar
Kalantzakos Loukas: Drums
Giorgos Fakanas: Bass
to France, Queen Medley…..
Famous classic rock hits by AC/DC, Moody Blues, Mike Oldfield, Queen and other bands
2023 10 14 Vincenzo Bellini's I Puritani, opera in three acts
In 1949, under the baton of Tullio Serafin, Maria Callas triumphs in Venice, in the opera “I Puritani” by Vincenzo Bellini. Her ingenious creation of the highly demanding role of Elvira, both dramatic and refined, marks her absolute reign in the bel canto style of singing. Set against the context of the English Civil War in the 17th century, the plot tells a story of romance and despair between two members of opposing factions
The opera is presented in concert version by a brilliant quartet in the four main roles, an indispensable condition for the success of the performance· among them, the internationally acclaimed American tenor John Osborn and the sought-after on the international scene Greek soprano Christina Poulitsi.
2023 09 17 Tribute to Maria Callas - opera Gala with Myrtò Papathanasiu
Myrtò Papathanasiu, the internationally distinguished soprano returns to her birthplace to interprete a tribute to the great Greek soprano Maria Callas the most beloved soprano of our era, within the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of her birth. Lukas Karytinos, the Athens State Orchestra's Artistic Director, conducts the concert.
2023 09 24 Maria Callas - Opera at Megaron
Russian soprano Elena Stikhina and Greek baritone Dimitris Platanias are famous in the greatest opera theatres of the world, with astonishing interpretations even when it comes to the most demanding opera roles. Under the batton of the eminent conductor Lukas Karytinos, and accompanied by the Athens State Orchestra, they sing a programme composed by favorite arias of the Italian romantic opera, emphasizing on the immortal Giuseppe Verdi and they offer their experience and their endless vocal and musical talent, promising unforgettable interpretations.