7/22/10

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Yesterday afternoon, the main sight in Athens was the double-decker bus on which musicians of the Greek National Opera performed extract’s from the company’s latest production, Verdi’s “Aida.”

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The band played, and spread the Greek National Opera’s message: “Listen to Verdi, not the news”

By Helen Bistika

Finally we Athenians were given something to smile about with the Greek National Opera’s band, which, on Tuesday afternoon toured the streets of Athens on a red double-decker sightseeing bus and played “The Triumphal March,” just as Kathimerini’s Olga Sella reported yesterday, before the news was scooped up by the television stations.

Smiling, Greek President Karolos Papoulias, who was expecting a visit by Cypriot Foreign Affairs Minister Markos Kyprianou and who is always open to new ideas, stood on the balcony of the Presidential Mansion and watched. He waved to the musicians who continued to play under the hot summer sun sporting white caps and with a bottle of cold water within reach. Just as they thirsted for water, so Athens thirsts for opera, and the Greek National Opera, despite its known difficulties, has succeeded in earning the support of the country’s enthusiasts. The initiative of the new management and Board President Nikos Mourkoyiannis has already started to bear fruit. As the band rolled past the, Athenians stood and watched, making cheerful comments as children clapped their hands – especially for the centre of the city, which has been plagued by protest rallies, it was like a rainbow on a grey sky.

As for the rest, that will come at tomorrow’s performance of “Aida,” the GNO’s second production this summer. The performance is based on the 1991 production directed by Dinos Yiannopoulos. The sets were by Yiannis Karydis, the costumes by Liza Zaimi and the choreography by Yiannis Metsis. In this production, the adaptation is by Panaghis Pagoulatos, sets and costumes are by Tota Pritsa and the choreography is by Irina Akrioti-Kolioubakina. Lukas Karytinos will be conducting the orchestra and Giorgos Aravidis the band, while the production includes the participation of the GNO Orchestra, Choir and Ballet. The choir is conducted by Nikos Vassiliou.

“Aida” will be performed on Friday, July 23, Saturday, July 24, and Wednesday, July 28, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus at 21.00. The production is a collaboration with the City of Athens and sponsored by the OPAP state betting agency.

The title role will be performed at the premiere and on July 28 by Italian soprano Tiziana Caruso and on July 24 by Hui He. Amneris will be performed by Elena Cassian and Chariklia Mavropoulou, Radames by the American tenor Stuart Neill and his Tbilisi-born counterpart Badri Maisuradze, Amonasro by Yannis Yannissis and Dimitris Platanias, Ramfis by Dimitris Kavrakos and Christophoros Stamboglis, The King of Egypt by Dimitris Kassioumis and Tassos Apostolou, the Messenger by Dimitris Sigalos and Nikos Stefanou, and the Priestess by Artemis Bogri and Ines Zikou.

An opera in four acts, “Aida” was first performed in Athens in 1958 at the opening of the Olympia Theatre. Ticket prices are: Lower tier 100, 85, 55 and 45 euros; Upper tier 30 euros, and for children and students 15 euros.