ENCYCLICAL OF HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN SOTIRIOS FOR OCTOBER 28, 1940

October 28 1940

Comparison – Catharsis – Progress 

By Metropolitan Sotirios

          No one can doubt that every Greek of 1940 proved himself to be magnificent: from the King and Prime Minister to the very last Greek. Do Greeks always show this magnificence, though? That is, do they always prevail and surpass all other peoples in their accomplishments? Does every Greek excel, perhaps, when facing dangers? The truth is that every person has his ups and downs.

          The Greek race has proven its magnificence throughout history. Before all other peoples, it showed its supremacy through philosophy, poetry, democracy, art, and culture. This is true, not only in its ancient history, but also throughout its history.

          It seems that the Greek of today has sunk to the lowest level that is possible. This can be seen in the problems that are present today in our beloved country of Greece. The worst part is not the problems themselves, but the way in which these problems are dealt with by the majority of Greeks. What should happen? Should we tear each other apart? Should we quarrel with one another? Obviously, this is not an option.  

          Let us stand well; let us stand with respect; let us not be disillusioned; let us not panic; let us not run away from our problems and the present state of affairs, but face them and deal with them correctly.

          Today's Greeks need to have sobriety and composure in their lives. They should immerse themselves in studying the history of their own people and nation:   from ancient times until today. They should rejoice in their successes. They should recognize their failures and pitfalls in the past. Today's modern Greek should compare himself with the successful Greek of old; the Ancient Greek; the Byzantine Greek; the Greek of the Revolution of 1821; the Greek of the Epic War of 1940. When one makes this comparison, let him, in turn, judge himself. The ancient Greek would examine himself every night. "What good did I do? What did I do wrong? What should I have done but did not do?" This is how today's Greek should also evaluate himself, for in this way, he can achieve catharsis and ultimately purification.

          Catharsis and purification are the best means to use for anyone to begin his ascent, his advancement and his progress. The Greek was created for glorious things. When he uses his gifts, he rises and can remain at great heights. When he forgets his abilities and his destination, he falls down and causes himself to be humiliated.

          As we celebrate the historic NO (ΟΧΙ) of October 28th, 1940 I call upon every Greek to stand before his history with utmost respect; to respectfully stand in awe before the legacy of the superb ancient Greek; to stand in respect before every hero of every age; to compare himself with the superb Greek of the past - every single day of his life, so that self-catharsis may take place. Let us confront today's problems supporting each other and standing together - especially in dealing with the financial crisis that is plaguing Greece today. Let us confront it with magnanimity, and with courage. When we are prudent and united, no problem is unsolvable and the Gordian knot can be severed.  The financial problem is merely a small dark cloud which shall soon pass. No one should despair or try to escape from his responsibilities.  All together, let us stand together to defend our values and our homeland, so that success will be ours.

          Long Live October 28th 1940! Long Live Freedom!

With fatherly love and blessings,

Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios

Primate of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada)

28η Οκτωβρίου, 1940 Σύγκριση – Κάθαρση – Πρόοδος Μητροπολίτη Σωτηρίου

28^η Οκτωβρίου, 1940

Σύγκριση –Κάθαρση –Πρόοδος

Μητροπολίτη Σωτηρίου

            Ουδείς αμφιβάλλει, ότι ο κάθε Έλληνας του 1940 απεδείχθη υπέροχος. Από τον Βασιλιά και τον Πρωθυπουργό μέχρι και τον τελευταίο Έλληνα. Είναι όμως ο Έλληνας πάντοτε υπέροχος; Δηλαδή υπερτερεί πάντοτε των άλλων ανθρώπων; Μήπως γίνεται υπέροχος όταν αντιμετωπίζει κινδύνους; Η αλήθεια είναι ότι ο κάθε άνθρωπος έχει τα ανεβοκατεβάσματά του.

          Η Ελληνική φυλή έχει αποδείξει την υπεροχή της. Πριν από κάθε άλλη φυλή απέδειξε την υπεροχή της, με την φιλοσοφία. Με την ποίηση. Με την δημοκρατία. Με τον πολιτισμό γενικά. Και όχι μόνο στην αρχαία εποχή, αλλά και διά μέσου της ιστορίας, πολλές φορές έχει αποδείξει την υπεροχή της.

          Ο σημερινός Έλληνας φαίνεται ότι έχει κατεβεί στο χαμηλότερο επίπεδο, που μπορούσε να κατεβεί. Αυτό δείχνουν τα προβλήματα τα οποία επικρατούν σήμερα στην αγαπημένη μας πατρίδα Ελλάδα. Το χειρότερο δεν είναι τα προβλήματα, αλλά είναι ο τρόπος με τον οποίον αντιμετωπίζονται από τους περισσότερους Έλληνες. Τι πρέπει να γίνει; Πρέπει να αλληλοσπαραχθούμε; Να αλληλοφαγωθούμε; Ασφαλώς όχι.

          Στώμεν καλώς! Στώμεν μετά σεβασμού... Να μη απογοητευθούμε. Να μη πανικοβληθούμε. Να μη το βάλομε στα πόδια.

          Ο σημερινός Έλληνας πρέπει να σταθεί με νηφαλιότητα. Να σπουδάσει τον εαυτό του από την αρχαία εποχή μέχρι και σήμερα. Να χαρεί για τις επιτυχίες του. Να αναγνωρίσει τις αποτυχίες του και τις πτώσεις του. Να συγκρίνει ο σημερινός Έλληνας τον εαυτό του με τον επιτυχημένο Έλληνα. Τον αρχαίο Έλληνα. Τον βυζαντινό Έλληνα. Τον Έλληνα της  Επανάστασης του 1821. Τον Έλληνα της εποποιίας του 1940. Αφού κάνει αυτή τη σύγκριση, να κρίνει τον εαυτό του. Ο αρχαίος Έλληνας, κάθε βράδυ εξήταζε τον εαυτό του. «Τι καλό έκανα; Τι κακό έκανα; Τι έπρεπε να κάνω και δεν το έκανα;». «Εκάστοτε ταύτα λέγειν εις τον οίκον εισιών: Τι παρέβην; Τι δ’ έρρεξα; Τι μοι δέον ουκ ετελέσθη;»  Έτσι πρέπει και ο σημερινός Έλληνας να κρίνει τον εαυτό του, ώστε να επέλθει η κάθαρση. Ο εξαγνισμός.

          Η κάθαρση και ο εξαγνισμός είναι η καλύτερη βάση, για να αρχίσει κάποιος το ανέβασμά του. Την πρόοδό του. Ο Έλληνας είναι φτιαγμένος για τα υψηλά. Όταν κάμνει σωστή χρήση των προικισμάτων του, ανεβαίνει πολύ ψηλά και μπορεί να μένει πολύ ψηλά. Όταν ξεχνάει τις ικανότητές του και τον προορισμό του, πέφτει χαμηλά και ντροπιάζει τον εαυτό του.

          Γιορτάζοντας το ηρωικό ΟΧΙ της 28^ης Οκτωβρίου, 1940 καλώ τον κάθε Έλληνα να σταθεί με σεβασμό μπροστά στην ιστορία. Να σταθεί με σεβασμό μπροστά στον υπέροχο αρχαίο Έλληνα. Να σταθεί με σεβασμό μπροστά στον κάθε ήρωα, της κάθε εποχής. Να συγκρίνει καθημερινά τον εαυτό του με τον υπέροχο Έλληνα. Ώστε να επέρχεται η κάθαρση του εαυτού του. Να αντιμετωπίσομε τα σημερινά προβλήματα και ιδιαίτερα το οικονομικό με ομοψυχία. Με μεγαλοψυχία. Με θάρρος. Όταν είμαστε νουνεχείς και ενωμένοι, ουδέν πρόβλημα είναι άλυτο και ο γόρδιος δεσμός κόβεται. Και το οικονομικό πρόβλημα, συννεφάκι είναι και θα περάσει. Κανείς να μη λυποψυχήσει. Κανείς να μη λιποτακτήσει. Όλοι μαζί στις επάλξεις και η επιτυχία είναι δική μας.

          Ζήτω η 28^η Οκτωβρίου, 1940! Ζήτω η Ελευθερία.

Με πατρική αγάπη και θερμές ευχές

Ο ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ

Ο ΤΟΡΟΝΤΟ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΟΣ

H Ελληνική Εταιρεία Μαστολογίας, διοργανώνει Συναυλία με τη Συμφωνική Ορχήστρα & τη Χορωδία του Δήμου Αθηναίων

Συναυλία με τη Συμφωνική Ορχήστρα & τη Χορωδία του Δήμου Αθηναίων.

Ο Οκτώβριος είναι παγκοσμίως ο Μήνας για την καταπολέμηση του Καρκίνου του Μαστού. Με αυτή την αφορμή, η Ελληνική Εταιρεία Μαστολογίας, διοργανώνει Συναυλία με τη Συμφωνική Ορχήστρα & τη Χορωδία του Δήμου Αθηναίων,την Τρίτη 15 Οκτωβρίου 2013 και ώρα 21.00, στο Παλλάς.
Σκοπός της εκδήλωσης, αφενός είναι να ευαισθητοποιηθεί ο πολίτης για τη σημασία που έχει η πρόληψη μέσω της διενέργειας τακτικού ετήσιου μαστολογικού ελέγχου, αλλά και αφετέρου για να αναδειχθεί το κοινωνικό έργο και να υποστηριχθεί οικονομικά το έργο που προσφέρει δωρεάν το Κέντρο Ψυχοκοινωνικής Υποστήριξης γυναικών με καρκίνο του μαστού «Έλλη Λαμπέτη», τόσο σε γυναίκες που έχουν διαγνωσθεί με τη νόσο, όσο και στα μέλη των οικογενειών τους.

Η συναυλία έχει κοινωνικό και φιλανθρωπικό σκοπό. Όλα τα έσοδα της, θα διατεθούν για τη συνέχιση της λειτουργίας του Κέντρου Ψυχοκοινωνικής Υποστήριξης γυναικών με Καρκίνο του Μαστού «Έλλη Λαμπέτη», που επί 12 συναπτά έτη προσφέρει ΔΩΡΕΑΝ τις υπηρεσίες του.To Κέντρο Έλλη Λαμπέτη, για να συνεχίσει να λειτουργεί και να προσφέρει τις εξαιρετικές του υπηρεσίες προς την κοινωνία έχει άμεση ανάγκη οικονομικής στήριξης.
Μας χρειάζεται όλους!!!
Να είστε εκεί!!!

Lise Lindstrom to Sing Senta in Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer Replacing Petra Maria Schnitzer

courtesy of the San Francisco Opera

San Francisco Opera today announced a casting change in the Company’s upcoming production of Richard Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman). American soprano Lise Lindstrom will make her San Francisco Opera Debut as Senta in the Company’s upcoming production, opening October 22 for seven performances, replacing Petra Maria Schnitzer, who has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. A case of bronchitis and swollen vocal cords has prevented Ms. Schnitzer from rehearsing for what would have been a debut in the role.
American soprano Lise Lindstrom makes her San Francisco Opera debut as Senta, a role she has performed with New Orleans Opera, Utah Opera, and Polish National Opera. She has been widely praised for her performances in the title role of Turandot at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, where she just opened their new season in September; Milan’s La Scala; the Metropolitan Opera; the Arena di Verona; les Chorégies d’Orange; Deutsche Oper Berlin; and in Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Miami, and Dallas. The Bay Area native’s career highlights include the title role of Salome at the Vienna State Opera, Turin’s Teatro Regio, and San Diego Opera; Brünnhilde (Die Walküre) at Palermo’s Teatro Massimo; the title role of Tosca with Glimmerglass Opera; Elisabeth and Venus (Tannhäuser) with Greek National Opera; Magda (The Consul) with Arizona Opera; Ricke (Franchetti’s Germania) with Deutsche Oper Berlin; and the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos with Des Moines Metro Opera. On the concert stage, Lindstrom has been a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony and at New York’s Bard College and the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Future seasons include leading roles with the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, Montreal Opera, San Diego Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and Hamburg State Opera. Lindstrom holds degrees from San Francisco State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Der Fliegende Holländer, Wagner’s mythic tale of a condemned ship captain and the woman who will do anything to redeem him, stars bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, who thrilled San Francisco audiences as a powerful Jokanaan in 2009’s Salome. Completing the cast are English tenor Ian Storey (Siegfried in 2011’s Götterdämmerung) as Erik and Icelandic bass Kristinn Sigmundsson as Daland. San Francisco Opera Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers conducts and Petrika Ionesco (who directed and designed 2010’s Cyrano de Bergerac) directs a new production he also designed, with costumes by Lili Kendaka. This inventive co-production with Belgium’s Opéra Royal de Wallonie has been extensively enhanced since its 2011 premiere in Liège to further develop the vision of the director and has been expanded to make use of the space available on the War Memorial Opera House stage. S. Katy Tucker, who previously designed projections for San Francisco Opera’s 2011 Ring cycle and world premiere of Heart of a Soldier, has created new projections utilizing our recently acquired state-of-the-art projection equipment. Der Fliegende Holländer is presented as part of the Company’s celebration of Richard Wagner’s bicentennial birthday celebration.
San Francisco Opera Guild will present an Insight Panel Discussion featuring members of the cast and production team from Der Fliegende Holländer. The discussion will take place on Monday, October 21 at 6 p.m. in the Concert Hall at San Francisco Conservatory (50 Oak Street). Insight panels are free for Opera members and $5 for the general public; tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to the discussion.
Single tickets for San Francisco Opera’s 2013–14 Season are priced from $23 to $385.  Tickets may be purchased at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office [301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), or by phone at (415) 864-3330]. Standing Room tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of each performance; tickets are $10 each, cash only.

San Francisco Opera Launches Multiple New Media Initiatives, Fall 2013

Live Streaming of Mefistofele to European Cinemas, Oct 2

Worldwide DVD/Blue-ray Release of Moby-Dick & Lucrezia Borgia, Oct 29

PBS TV ARTS FALL FESTIVAL Great Performances to air Moby-Dick, Nov 1

Live Simulcast of Falstaff to Stanford's Frost Amphitheater, Oct 11

SFO Returns to KQED Public Television Sept 12 — Oct 3 with Porgy and Bess, Aida, Boris Godunov, Lucrezia Borgia with special host Frederica von Stade
SAN FRANCISCO (October 1, 2013) – San Francisco Opera launches several new media initiatives this fall underscoring the Company’s prominence as one of the world’s leading producers for the lyric stage while showcasing the acclaimed assets of its in-house state-of-the-art Koret-Taube Media Suite.  

San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley said, “With today’s news, the Company continues to expand our global stature and emphasize many of the wonderful live performances recorded and produced in high-definition format from the War Memorial Opera House. I’m proud to say these initiatives stress one of the Company’s core values of providing greater accessibility and enjoyment of the opera art form to a broader community. In this spirit, we’ve forged meaningful relationships with our esteemed media partners Rising Alternative, EuroArts and Naxos, THIRTEEN for WNET/PBS Great Performances, KQED Public Television, and Stanford Live, in addition to our ongoing Bay Area and national radio partners KDFC and WFMT, and anticipate audiences locally and worldwide will be the true beneficiary of our collective efforts.”

Live Streaming of Mefistofele, October 2

This new media campaign will be distinguished by the Company’s first-ever live streaming of a performance from the War Memorial Opera House stage on Wednesday, October 2, with Arrigo Boito’s grand opera Mefistofele, presented in high-definition format to more than one hundred cinema theaters across fifteen countries in Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain and the UK).  Produced in cooperation with Rising Alternative, one of the premiere content distributors of classical arts programming to cinemas worldwide, Mefistofele will be screened in Europe on October 3 with a trans-Atlantic delay due to the multiple time zones ranging from California to Russia.

This unique and spectacular production designed by Robert Carsen and Michael Levine features an international cast of Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov, Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas and American soprano Patricia Racette, with San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti leading the Company Orchestra, Chorus and Corps Dancers. Future plans call for Rising Alternative to offer cinemas San Francisco Opera’s recent John Pascoe production of Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia with soprano Renée Fleming, tenor Michael Fabiano and conductor Riccardo Frizza beginning in 2014.

Worldwide Release of Moby-Dick and Lucrezia Borgia DVD and Blu-ray discs

Beginning Tuesday, October 29, San Francisco Opera in partnership with EuroArts Music International and Naxos of America will release for worldwide sale DVD and Blu-ray discs of two recent San Francisco Opera productions: the premiere recording of contemporary composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s universally praised Moby-Dick, an adaptation of Herman Melville’s powerful novel set for the lyric stage, and Gaetano Donizetti’s 19^th century bel canto gem Lucrezia Borgia featuring opera superstar Renée Fleming. Recorded live in high-definition at the War Memorial Opera House, both operas include special bonus material including interviews with cast members, program notes, plot synopses and production photographs.

By special arrangement with Naxos of America, copies of both Moby-Dick and Lucrezia Borgia will be available for sale at the San Francisco Opera Shop beginning the week of October 7. The sale price is $24.99 for DVDs and $39.99 for Blu-ray discs. On Sunday, November 3 following the company’s matinee performance of Der Fliegende Holländer, Moby-Dick composer Jake Heggie and conductor Patrick Summers will make a special appearance to autograph purchased copies of the opera.

The release of Moby-Dick and Lucrezia Borgia represent the first of six operas to be produced by San Francisco Opera in this new collaboration with EuroArts, with an additional four operas expected to be announced in 2014.

Bernd Hellthaler, CEO and Executive Producer at EuroArts Music International, said: “We are thrilled to be working with San Francisco Opera. It is a privilege to add these sumptuously produced performances to our portfolio of first-class opera productions. San Francisco Opera, internationally recognized as one of the top opera companies in the world, is the ideal partner to work with us on the TV distribution and release on DVD and Blu-ray disc of these splendid programs.”

Jim Selby, CEO at Naxos of America added, “Naxos of America is honored and excited to enter into a new partnership with the San Francisco Opera and EuroArts with the release of Moby-Dick and Lucrezia Borgia on both DVD and Blu-ray formats. We also look forward to further releases in 2014 from the same forces, utilizing our collective marketing efforts to bring these important productions to the widest possible audience.”

Recorded in October 2012, San Francisco Opera’s presentation of Moby-Dick features Grammy Award-winning singer Jay Hunter Morris in the role of Captain Ahab; Stephen Costello as Greenhorn; Morgan Smith as Starbuck; Jonathan Lemalu as Queequeg; Talise Trevigne as Pip; Matthew O’Neill as Flask; and Robert Orth as Stubb.  San Francisco Opera Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers, who led the highly successful world premiere in April 2010 at Dallas Opera, presides over the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The San Francisco Opera presentation reunited Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer with the original creative team of director Leonard Foglia, production designer Robert Brill, costume designer Jane Greenwood, lighting designer Gavan Swift, video projection designer Elaine J. McCarthy, and choreographer Keturah Stickann.

Donizetti’s rarely heard Lucrezia Borgia vividly comes alive in this plush recording from October 2011 with a highly praised cast distinguished by San Francisco Opera veteran Renée Fleming in the title role; Michael Fabiano as Gennaro; Elizabeth DeShong as Maffio Orsini; and Vitalij Kowaljow as Duke Alfonso. Riccardo Frizza conducted the San Francisco Opera Chorus and Orchestra and the stage is set in a lavish Italian Renaissance production designed and directed by John Pascoe.

PBS Great Performances to air Moby-Dick, November 1

For the first time since 2002, San Francisco Opera returns to Great Performances with composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s award-winning opera Moby-Dick, to be broadcast nationwide on THIRTEEN’s Great Performances Friday, November 1, 2013 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), as part of the PBS Arts Fall Festival.

Composed in two acts and sung in English, Heggie and Scheer’s opera adaptation brings a thrilling new musical dimension to one of the towering classics of American literature, Herman Melville’s celebrated novel Moby-Dick; or, The Whale.

The Bay Area premiere ran for eight performances in the fall of 2012 at the War Memorial Opera House. San Francisco Opera Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers presided over a vocally resplendent cast of singers including Jay Hunter Morris (Captain Ahab), Stephen Costello (Greenhorn), Jonathan Lemalu (Queequeg), Morgan Smith (Starbuck), Talise Trevigne (Pip), Matthew O’Neill (Flask), Robert Orth (Stubb), and the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus (Ian Robertson, Chorus Director) in a stage production directed by Leonard Foglia, choreographed by Keturah Stickann, and designed by Robert Brill (sets), Jane Greenwood (costumes), Gavan Swift (lighting), and Elaine J. McCarthy (projections).

San Francisco Bay Area music critics were unanimous in their high praise for the opera premiere. “The result is a masterpiece of clarity and intensity, with a score that is at once thematically compact and richly inventive,” wrote the San Francisco Chronicle.  “Suffused with gorgeous harmonies and melodic music, there are few contemporary operas like it; it will certainly stay in the international opera repertory for a long time,” stated the San Francisco Examiner. The San Jose Mercury News added, “Moby-Dick boasts an ace cast and whiz-bang production values: digital projections that conjure the vast rolling seas; physical sets with mile-high masts and Brooklyn Bridge grids of rigging. Directed by Leonard Foglia, Moby is awesome in a 21^st Century Broadway kind of way.”

Moby-Dick was co-commissioned by San Francisco Opera in partnership with the Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, Calgary Opera and the State Opera of South Australia, and premiered at the Dallas Opera’s Winspear Opera House in April 2010.  In September 2012, Moby-Dick was voted “Best Opera” and Leonard Foglia was named “Best Director of an Opera” at the Helpmann Awards for Performing Arts in Australia—that country’s highest awards event recognizing distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in live performance.

San Francisco Opera has a long and distinguished broadcast history with Great Performances which includes national telecasts of Samson et Dalila, L’Africaine, Mefistofele, Turandot, the world premiere of Conrad Susa’s Dangerous Liaisons, San Francisco Opera 75th Anniversary Gala Celebration Concert, the world premiere of Andre Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire, and The Merry Widow.

Moby-Dick from San Francisco Opera is a co-production of San Francisco Opera and THIRTEEN in association with WNET. Directed by Frank Zamacona, the television production is produced by Jessica Koplos and Matthew Shilvock; David Gockley is executive producer. For Great Performances, John Walker is producer, Bill O’Donnell is series producer, and David Horn is executive producer.

Falstaff Simulcast to Stanford’s Frost Amphitheater, October 11

San Francisco Opera’s popular series of free community simulcasts continues this fall with a live HD simulcast of Giuseppe Verdi’d Falstaff to Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater on October 11 at 8:00 p.m.  Presented in partnership with Stanford Live, Verdi’s comic masterpiece—featuring renowned bass-baritone Bryn Terfel in his signature role and conducted by Nicola Luisotti—will be transmitted to Stanford University’s outdoor amphitheater live from the stage of the War Memorial Opera House.

Free live simulcasts are among the first innovations of David Gockley’s tenure and part of the Company’s mission to bring opera into the community and to wider audiences. Falstaff marks the eleventh simulcast presented since its debut in 2006.  To date, the Company’s free live simulcasts have drawn over 194,000 music lovers of all ages, including drawing large and enthusiastic crowds to the Company’s regular series of simulcasts to AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team.


KQED TV Airs Four San Francisco Opera Productions

For the fourth consecutive year, San Francisco Opera returned to KQED Public Television 9, Northern California’s preeminent public broadcast station, with a new series of grand operas recorded live in high definition from the War Memorial Opera House.  This season’s productions and recent broadcast dates included: The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, September 12; Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida, September 19; Modest Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov, September 26; and Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia, October 3. Each broadcast includes numerous encore airings on KQED 9 and KQED Live. International opera star and arts advocate extraordinaire Frederica von Stade is once again the program’s host.

San Francisco Opera’s critically acclaimed presentation of Porgy and Bess in 2009 featured Eric Owens and Laquita Mitchell in the title roles, along with Lester Lynch (Crown), Chauncey Packer (Sportin’ Life), Karen Slack (Serena) and Angel Blue (Clara). The preeminent Porgy and Bess conductor John DeMain led the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Catfish Row ensemble in a new production directed by Francesca Zambello.

The Company’s broadcast of Verdi’s grand Egyptian opera Aida (recorded September 2010) features the local debut of Italian soprano Micaela Carosi in the title role, joined by Dolora Zajick (Amneris), Marcello Giordani (Radames), and Marco Vratogna (Amonasro). SFO Music Director Nicola Luisotti is on the podium leading the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a lavish production designed by Zandra Rhodes and directed by Jo Davies.

Mussorgsky’s imperial opera Boris Godunov (recorded October 2008) boasts a distinguished cast of singers including American bass Samuel Ramey in the title role, in addition to Vitalij Kowaljow (Pimen), Vsevolod Grivnov (Grigory, the Pretender Dimitri) and Vladimir Ognovenko (Varlaam). Russian conductor Vassily Sinaisky leads a stirring performance with the Opera Orchestra and Chorus in a production by Stein Winge directed by Julia Pevzner.

Donizetti’s bel canto gem Lucrezia Borgia (recorded Sept 2011) welcomes the return of Company veteran and superstar Renée Fleming in the title role, joined by Michael Fabiano (Gennaro), Elizabeth DeShong (Maffio Orsini) and Vitalij Kowaljow (Duke Alfanso). Riccardo Frizza is on the podium with a production by John Pascoe.

 

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RISING ALTERNATIVE is one of the leading alternative content distributors and offers the best opera and ballet to cinemas, cultural centers and other public venues worldwide. The San Francisco Opera, the Teatro alla Scala, the Opera National de Paris, The Salzburg Festival and the Wiener Staatsoper are among the many opera venues featured in its catalogue. The company, with offices in New York, Berlin and Milan is ideally positioned to support its partners in exhibition and provide cinemas and audiences with a slate of 24 programs a year, 13 of which will be broadcast LIVE in HD during the in 2013-2014 season. Its exhibition partner network includes more than 800 screens in 40 countries. Rising Alternative has been involved in the distribution of content internationally since 2006.  For more information, visit www.risingalternative.com.

EUROARTS MUSIC INTERNATIONAL was founded in 1979 by Bernd Hellthaler. Soon, the company became internationally renowned for the production and distribution of audio-visual classical music recordings, acclaimed documentaries, opera and ballet films, and jazz as well as other music and art programs for TV and home video. Today the company sells the catalogues of EuroArts Music, Berlin and Idéale Audience, Paris as well as Arthaus Musik (TV only), BBC Legends and BBC Classic Archive Programs. It is active in TV licensing to more than 150 clients in 40 countries around the world, in DVD and audio distribution, as well as in distribution of digital files and other internet applications. The EuroArts Label distributes its catalog with more than 400 titles worldwide through its international distribution network partner Naxos Global. For more information about EuroArts Music International, visit euroarts.com.

Founded in 1991 and Headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee, NAXOS OF AMERICA, Inc. (NoA) is the #1 independent classical music distributor in the U.S. and Canada. Specializing in state-of-the-art distribution, marketing and promotion, NoA distributes nearly 40,000 SKUs to traditional brick and mortar retail, as well as offering a comprehensive suite of services tailored to consumer direct fulfillment. Naxos of America is also the largest digital distributor of independent classical music, supplying a catalog of over 45,000 albums to hundreds of digital download and mobile outlets worldwide. NoA offers marketing, e-marketing, publicity, e-publicity, physical and digital e-commerce services, licensing opportunities, streaming services, sales and customer service for all new releases and active catalog titles of Naxos Records and more than 200 physically distributed and 400 digitally distributed labels. Recordings and artists from the labels of the NoA distribution family have earned 24 GRAMMY® Awards.  For more information, visit http://naxosusa.com.

In 2013, WNET is celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of THIRTEEN, New York’s flagship public media provider. As the parent company of THIRTEEN and WLIW21 and operator of NJTV, WNET brings quality arts, education and public affairs programming to over 5 million viewers each week. WNET produces and presents such acclaimed PBS series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Need to Know, Charlie Rose and a range of documentaries, children’s programs, and local news and cultural offerings available on air and online. Pioneers in educational programming, WNET has created such groundbreaking series as Get the Math, Oh Noah! and Cyberchase and provides tools for educators that bring compelling content to life in the classroom and at home. WNET highlights the tri-state’s unique culture and diverse communities through NYC-ARTS, Reel 13, NJ Today and MetroFocus, the multi-platform news magazine focusing on the New York region. WNET is also a leader in connecting with viewers on emerging platforms, including the THIRTEEN Explore iPad App where users can stream PBS content for free. For more information, visit www.wnet.org.

As part of its commitment to increase every American’s access to — and participation in — the arts, PBS kicks off the multiplatform PBS ARTS FALL FESTIVAL on Friday, October 18, 2013, hosted by award-winning television, film and stage star Anna Deavere Smith.  Anchored by broadcasts every Friday night and a range of related online content, the Fall Festival features artists and performances from across the country, comprised of full-length performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, and artist and performer profiles.  Visit Great Performances online at www.pbs.org/gperf.

KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest rated public television services and a leader in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. As other news organizations have shrunk, KQED has expanded its efforts to cover the issues and events that are important to the Bay Area. As the most trusted source of news in the Bay Area, KQED is a multiplatform operation with offices and bureaus in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno and Los Angeles. KQED News programs include KQED NEWSROOM, current affairs specials produced in collaboration with The Center for Investigative Reporting, The California Report, Forum, 18 news broadcasts on KQED Public Radio daily and the popular blogs News Fix, State of Health, Mindshift and The Lowdown. For more information about news and television programming, visit www.kqed.org.

STANFORD LIVE is a university organization with a multi-faceted and inclusive approach to creating, presenting, nurturing, and celebrating the performing arts at Stanford. In part, Stanford Live is the new Stanford Lively Arts, building upon Lively Arts’ legacy of more than four decades of artistic presentation, artist residencies, faculty and student engagement, and commissions and premieres of new works. Stanford Live includes a wealth of collaborators and partners, including Stanford academic departments and individual faculty members, Stanford students, off-campus arts institutions, and community organizations. Crucially, Stanford Live supports the university’s focus on placing the arts at the heart of a Stanford education. Stanford Live’s home is Bing Concert Hall. Other performance venues across campus include Memorial Auditorium, Memorial Church, and Frost Amphitheater. For more information, visit www.live.stanford.edu.

SAN FRANCISCO OPERA is one of the world’s leading producers for the lyric stage heralded for its roster of international opera stars, innovative and bold productions, and critically acclaimed resident orchestra and chorus. Founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola, the Company presents annual fall and summer seasons at the historic San Francisco War Memorial Opera House ranging from classic to world premiere repertoire, in addition to numerous concerts, recitals and free state-of-the-art community engagement events. Since 1955, the Company has been an industry leader in the training and launching of young professional singers by way of the Merola Opera Program and the San Francisco Opera Center Adler Fellowship program. In 2008, San Francisco Opera created a new education division to expand upon the popular education and community partnership programs of the San Francisco Opera Guild. Together, these activities annually bring music education offerings to more than 65,000 students throughout Northern California, in addition to providing meaningful on-going education opportunities for all ages. The Company’s performances are further enjoyed throughout the nation and abroad via radio broadcasts, high-definition cinema screenings, and on Public Television. David Gockley became San Francisco Opera’s sixth general director in January 2006 and celebrated Italian conductor Nicola Luisotti became the Company’s music director in September 2009. Visit www.sfopera.com for more information.

San Francisco Opera October 2013 Events

Bicentennial Celebrations of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner:

Nicola Luisotti Conducts Verdi's Falstaff with Bryn Terfel in one of his Signature Roles

New Production of Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer Starring Greer Grimsley in the Title Role

San Francisco Opera and Italy's Teatro di San Carlo Join Forces
to Present Concert of Verdi's Messa da Requiem

In October 2013, San Francisco Opera celebrates the bicentennial births of two of opera’s most important composers—Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner. Renowned bass-baritone Bryn Terfel returns to San Francisco in the title role of Verdi’s beloved comedy Falstaff, conducted by San Francisco Opera Music Director Nicola Luisotti. Falstaff opens October 8 and runs for eight performances through November 2. San Francisco Opera teams with Stanford Live to present a free live simulcast of the October 11 performance of Falstaff at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater. A new production of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer starring Wagnerian bass-baritone Greer Grimsley in the title role and conducted by Patrick Summers opens on October 22 and runs for seven performances through November 15. In a once-in-a-lifetime performance, Nicola Luisotti will lead the combined orchestras and choruses of San Francisco Opera and Italy’s Teatro di San Carlo in a performance of Verdi’s masterwork, the Messa da Requiem, on October 25. All performances feature the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and San Francisco Opera Chorus (Ian Robertson, director) and take place in the historic War Memorial Opera House. Tickets for all October events are on sale at sfopera.com, by calling (415) 864-3330 or, visiting the San Francisco Opera Box Office.
 

Falstaff, Giuseppe Verdi [October 8–November 2]
Free Live HD Simulcast October 11 at Stanford University

A brilliant comedy about a lecherous glutton who vainly attempts to seduce two women at once, Falstaff features renowned Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel in one of his legendary signature roles. Spanish soprano Ainhoa Arteta is Alice Ford and Italian baritone Fabio Capitanucci makes his Company debut as her husband. Soprano Heidi Stober returns as Nannetta, Meredith Arwady is Dame Quickly and Francesco Demuro is Fenton. This Lyric Opera of Chicago production, designed by Frank Philipp Schlössmann, is directed by French stage director Olivier Tambosi and conducted by Nicola Luisotti.

Stanford Live and San Francisco Opera join to present a live simulcast of Falstaff at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater on Friday, October 11 at 8 p.m. Through state of the art high-definition technology, Verdi’s comic masterpiece will be projected to a large video screen—coupled with high-fidelity sound—in the beautiful tree-ringed, grass-covered setting of Stanford’s beloved outdoor amphitheater. The simulcast is free but advance registration for guaranteed early entry is available on the Stanford Live website at live.stanford.edu.  KDFC Radio’s Hoyt Smith will serve as onsite host at Frost Amphitheater for the simulcast.

San Francisco Opera Guild will present an Insight Panel Discussion featuring members of the cast and production team from Falstaff. The discussion will take place on Wednesday, October 2 at 6 p.m. in Chorissima Hall at the Kanbar Performing Arts Center (44 Page Street). Insight panels are free for Opera members and $5 for the general public; tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to the discussion.

Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman), Richard Wagner [October 22–November 15]

Der Fliegende Holländer, Wagner’s mythic tale of a condemned ship captain and the woman who will do anything to redeem him, stars Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, who thrilled San Francisco audiences as a powerful Jokanaan in 2009’s Salome. Other noted Wagnerians complete the cast: Petra Maria Schnitzer in her role debut as the Dutchman’s steadfast love Senta, Ian Storey (Siegfried in 2011’s Götterdämmerung) as Erik and Kristinn Sigmundsson as Daland. San Francisco Opera Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers conducts and Petrika Ionesco (who directed and designed 2010’s Cyrano de Bergerac) directs a new production he also designed, with costumes by Lili Kendaka. This inventive co-production with Belgium’s Opéra Royal de Wallonie has been extensively enhanced since its 2011 premiere in Liège to further develop the vision of the director and has been expanded to make use of the space available on the War Memorial Opera House stage. S. Katy Tucker, who previously designed projections for San Francisco Opera’s 2011 Ring cycle and world premiere of Heart of a Soldier, has created new projections utilizing our recently acquired state-of-the-art projection equipment.
 

San Francisco Opera Guild will present an Insight Panel Discussion featuring members of the cast and production team from Der Fliegende Holländer. The discussion will take place on Monday, October 21 at 6 p.m. in the Concert Hall at San Francisco Conservatory (50 Oak Street). Insight panels are free for Opera members and $5 for the general public; tickets can be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to the discussion.

Messa da Requiem, Giuseppe Verdi [October 25]

In celebration of the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth, San Francisco Opera presents an unprecedented performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s choral masterpiece, the Messa da Requiem, on Friday, October 25, 2013 featuring the combined orchestras and choruses of San Francisco Opera and Italy’s celebrated Real Teatro di San Carlo of Naples. Conducted by Nicola Luisotti, much-admired music director of both international companies, this concert will feature four vocal soloists—soprano Leah Crocetto, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, tenor Michael Fabiano and bass Vitalij Kowaljow. This unique presentation of the Requiem is offered as part of the worldwide Verdi bicentennial celebration and in recognition of 2013 The Year of Italian Culture in the United States, an initiative held under the auspices of the president of the Italian Republic.

Tickets and Information

Single tickets for San Francisco Opera’s 2013–14 Season are priced from $23 to $385. Tickets for the Verdi Requiem concert on October 25, 2013 are priced from $25 to $250 and availability is limited. Tickets may be purchased at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office [301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), or by phone at (415) 864-3330]. Standing Room tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of each performance; tickets are $10 each, cash only.

The War Memorial Opera House is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street. Patrons are encouraged to use public transportation to attend San Francisco Opera performances. The War Memorial Opera House is within walking distance of the Civic Center BART station and near numerous bus lines, including 5, 21, 47, 49 and the F Market Street. For more public transportation information, visit bart.gov and sfmuni.com.

Casting, programs, schedules and ticket prices are subject to change. For further information, please visit sfopera.com.

Ο Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος πρωταγωνίστησε ως Προμηθέας στην τραγωδία «Προμηθέας Δεσμώτης» στο θέατρο "ΤΕΧΝΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΤΡΑ"

Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος

ΠΑΡΑΣΚΕΥΗ 27 ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΥ 2013. Στο θέατρο "ΤΕΧΝΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΤΡΑ" στο Άλσος Περιστερίου παρουσιάστηκε το Λυρικό Δράμα «Προμηθέας Δεσμώτης» σε μουσική και λιμπρέτο του Παναγιώτη Καρούσου βασισμένο στην ομώνυμη τραγωδία του Αισχύλου.

Ο Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος πρωταγωνίστησε ως Προμηθέας στην τραγωδία «Προμηθέας Δεσμώτης» την οποία και σκηνοθέτησε. Ο κύριος Ασημακόπουλος έδωσε έναν Προμηθέα πάνω από τα καθιερωμένα επίπεδα του συμβατού δράματος, λόγω του ότι η εναλλαγή πρόζας και τραγουδιού αναδεικνύουν τον ήρωα στον υψηλό βαθμό του λυρικού καλλιτέχνη. Ο Προμηθέας του Βασίλη Ασημακόπουλου είναι ένα σύμβολο αντίστασης στην κάθε λογής τυραννική εξουσία.

Ο τενόρος Αναστάσιος Στέλλας ως Ωκεανός και Ερμής εντυπωσίασε με την αψεγάδιαστη φωνή του και την ερμηνευτική του άνεση.

Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος

Ο τενόρος Αναστάσιος Στέλλας εμφανίστηκε στην σκηνή ως Ωκεανός ερμηνεύοντας μαζί με τον Βασίλη Ασημακόπουλο και την Μαρία Λυμπεράκου το Τρίο Προμηθέας, Ωκεανός και Νύμφη Ωκεανίδα. Στο φινάλε του τρίο εντυπωσίασε ερμηνεύοντας με πολύ μπρίο τις γρήγορες αλλά Ροσσίνι κολορατούρες της παρτιτούρας.

Στον μελωδικότατο και φαμφαρόνο ρόλο του Ερμή καταχειροκροτήθηκε και δικαίως γιατί ερμήνευσε την άρια με τόση άνεση που συνεπήρε το ακροατήριο μαζί του.

Ο Αναστάσιος Στέλλας είναι ένας σπουδαίος μουσικός που προοιωνίζει ένα λαμπρό μέλλον.

Ως Ιώ και Νύμφη Ωκεανίδα η σοπράνο Μαρία Λυμπεράκου ήταν συνταρακτική για άλλη μια φορά με φρέσκια φωνή λυρικής κολορατούρας και σκηνική παρουσία.

Στην εκπληκτική άρια της Ωκεανίδας ήταν τέλεια και φωνητικά και σκηνικά. Απέδωσε τις κολορατούρες με άρτια τεχνική και πληθωρική μουσικότητα.

Στην συνέχεια του έργου εμφανίστηκε στον τραγικό ρόλο της Ιούς με χρυσά κέρατα και έντονο Make-up όπως απαιτούσε ο ιδιαίτερα έντονος ρόλος της ηρωιδας.

Η φωνή της πιο λυρική και γεμάτη με έντονη θεατρική ερμηνεία εντυπωσίασε το κοινό. Στο δε περίφημο ντουέτο με τον Προμηθέα έδωσε όλη της την ψυχή και την προσπάθεια να χρωματίσει την φωνή της ανάλογα με το κείμενο του Αισχύλου.

Βασίλης Ασημακόπουλος

Στο ρόλο της Κορυφαίας του Χορού Ωκεανίδας η Σαλαμίνια ηθοποιός Βίκυ Βιρβίλη, μαζί με το Χορό των Ωκεανίδων που αποτελούνταν από τις Ιέρειες έδωσε μια άλλη διάσταση στην παράσταση κάνοντας την ένωση της όπερας με το θέατρο και την τραγωδία.

Η ηθοποιός Βίκυ Βιρβίλη έχοντας στο ενεργητικό της αρκετούς πρωταγωνιστικούς ρόλους στην Αρχαία Ελληνική Τραγωδία ερμήνευσε με τραγικότητα το ρόλο της Κορυφαίας του χορού Ωκεανίδας, βγάζοντας όλη την συμπόνια που απαιτούσε ο ρόλος. Ερμήνευσε σπουδαία τον μονόλογο γεμίζοντας την σκηνή με το παίξιμο της.

Η σοπράνο Μαριμέλ Χρύση ερμήνευσε τους ρόλους της Βίας και της Θεάς Αθηνάς με τον δικό της πρωτότυπο τρόπο. Η φωνή της ωραία μεστή σπίντο – σοπράνο με εύκολες ψηλές νότες και γεμάτη την μεσαία φωνητική περιοχή από γρήγορο βιμπράτο. Η σκηνική της παρουσία εντυπωσιακή και με την απαιτούμενη αυστηρότητα απέδωσε σωστά τον ρόλο της Βίας με την ορμητική άρια, αλλά και τον ρόλο της Θεάς Αθηνάς στο φινάλε της όπερας. Δυο δύσκολους μουσικά ρόλους, από την άποψη ότι η μουσική γραφή είναι έντονα χρωματική με πλούσιες διαφωνίες. Αυτό απαιτεί από τον ερμηνευτή μια ιδιαίτερη προσοχή γιατί είναι πολύ δύσκολο να ακολουθήσει την φωνητική γραμμή όταν η μουσική συνοδεία δεν τον βοηθά απόλυτα. Εδώ στον Προμηθέα στους ρόλους της Βίας και Αθηνάς γίνεται μια προσπάθεια επανένταξης της κλασικής ρομαντικής όπερας με την μοντέρνα.

Στην κλασική εποχή της όπερας η συνοδεία συμπεριλαμβάνει και την μελωδική φωνητική γραφή, στην ρομαντική αργότερα άρχισαν οι συνθέτες να περιπλέκουν τα πράγματα προσθέτοντας αντίθετες αρμονικές γραμμές ταυτόχρονα με την τραγουδιστική γραφή. Καταλήγοντας στην μεταρομαντική εποχή που οι τραγουδιστές έπρεπε να σπουδάζουν και αρμονία για να καταλαβαίνουν την αρμονική γραφή του συνθέτη έτσι ώστε να μπορούν να ερμηνεύσουν την παρτιτούρα.

Η θέση των τραγουδιστών δυσκόλεψε περισσότερο με την πάροδο του χρόνου και κυρίως στην μεταμοντέρνα εποχή όπου άλλα τραγουδούσαν και άλλα άκουγαν σαν συνοδεία, σε πολλές περιπτώσεις συνθετών τελείως σε αντίθετες αρμονίες ή ακόμα και κλίμακες. Αυτή η περιπλοκή συνεχίστηκε έντονα μετά τον δεύτερο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο με καταστροφικό αποτέλεσμα για την όπερα διότι φτάσαμε στο επακόλουθο οι ακροατές που δεν ήταν απαραίτητα γνώστες να μην μπορούν να παρακολουθήσουν τις παραστάσεις και τα θέατρα να αδειάζουν από κόσμο αφού δεν καταλάβαιναν τι άκουγαν. Το ανθρώπινο αυτί δεν μπορούσε να παρακολουθήσει την μουσική. Από την άλλη μεριά οι καλλιτέχνες ερμηνευτές δυσκολευόντουσαν να αποστηθίσουν τα έργα και προτιμούσαν πιο παραδοσιακά έργα όπερας που και το κοινό τα παρακολουθούσε πιο εύκολα. 

Έτσι έγινε ο διαχωρισμός εκ τον πραγμάτων στην κλασική όπερα που γεμίζουν ακόμα τα θέατρα και οι καλλιτέχνες χαίρονται να τα ερμηνεύουν και στην μοντέρνα που πια παρουσιάζεται περιστασιακά και ως είδος πειραματισμού. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν να απορρίψουν οι λάτρες της όπερας όποια καινούργια προσπάθεια συγκαταλέγοντας την στην κακοφωνία του ακαταλαβίστικου της νέας εποχής. Αυτή η αντιμετώπιση δημιουργεί μεγάλες δυσκολίες στους νέους συνθέτες που πρέπει πια να βρουν τρόπους να παρουσιάσουν τα έργα τους και να πείσουν το κοινό να τα παρακολουθήσει χωρίς την επικρατούσα αρνητική προκατάληψη. Παρόλα αυτά η όπερα Προμηθέας γίνεται θερμά αποδεκτή.

Στην ορχήστρα ήταν η Δανάη Κιουπούρογλου, φλάουτο ο Δημήτρης Σιδερής, όμποε και αγγλικό κόρνο και η Βιβή Κλεισούρα, πιάνο.

Η παραγωγή και τα κοστούμια ήταν από το Ελληνοαμερικανικό Κέντρο των Τεχνών.

Η Βραδιά Όπερας μέσα στον «Πολιτιστικό Σεπτέμβρη 2013» του Δήμου Περιστερίου, απέδειξε ότι η όπερα μπορεί να είναι και ένα λαϊκό είδος τέχνης ακόμα και στις μέρες μας. Επίσης η μουσική του συνθέτη Παναγιώτη Καρούσου μπορεί να ακουστεί και σε σοβαρές αίθουσες συναυλιών αλλά και μέσα σε ένα πάρκο με την ίδια ανταπόκριση από το κοινό, και να γίνει εξίσου αποδεκτή. 

Την παράσταση παρακολούθησε η Πρόεδρος του Φεστιβάλ, Αντιδήμαρχος Πολιτισμού του Δήμου Περιστερίου Μαίρη Τσιώτα - Μάρκου.

GREAT STAGE DIRECTOR AND ACTOR YIANNIS NIKOLAIDIS SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTED AESCHYLUS’ TRAGEDY AGAMEMNON

Athens September 11, 2013 . In the open theater of Municipality of Haidari presented to a full crowd theater Aeschylus’ tragedy Agamemnon by theatrical agency "AIXMI."

Once there were the Koun, the Veakis, Minotis, Katrakis and others today John Nicolaides is the charismatic man who keeps the art of the traditional reins of ancient Greek drama.
Nowadays that the artistic side of man frayed with the insatiable promotion of cheap, worthless and of unbridled experimentation, Mr. Nicolaides support through his stage directions the ancient moral creation in the collapsing theatrical stage.
The meaning of his own design reaches the greatest artistic minds of the past, because he is authentic bringing a message of hope.

Kassandra: Danae Kalachora

The tragic role of Clytemnestra was performed by the great Greek tragedian actress Fotini Filosofou, where literally riveted audiences with her stage presence and interpretation.
The role of Clytemnestra is one of the biggest classic roles of ancient tragedy that shows so obviously the transition of humanity from matriarchy to patriarchy.
Few tragedians could properly embody Clytemnestra’s part, like Katina Paxinou, Eleni Papadaki and others, but Fotini Filosofou gave her own mark, indelibly different, hers. She made the role her own and that is an achievement.
The exemplary direction by Yannis Nikolaidis highlighted all aspects of the complex and dark character of Clytemnestra.

Agamemnon: Zecharias Rojas

As Preacher John Nicolaides undoubtedly convinced, his thought moves and theatrical presence in a very unsettling and difficult role that literally opens and closes the tragedy. With him and under his direction all excellent actors interpreted beautifully their roles. As Agamemnon Zecharias Rochas was remarkable, as well as Cassandra Danae Kalachora gave her best.
Such productions from this theatrical organization under the direction of the indefatigable John Nicolaides will offer the maximum in Ancient Greek Tragedy.
Aeschylus - Agamemnon
Translation: Kostas Politopoulos
Directed by : John Nicolaides
Music : Michael Gliniadakis
Sets: Michael Angelakis

Costumes: Olga Shinas
Assistants. Director: Spyros Konstantoulas
DISTRIBUTION
( In order of appearance)
Guard: Chris Kanellis
Clytemnestra: Fotini Filosofou
Preacher: John Nicolaides
Agamemnon: Zecharias Rochas
Kassandra: Danae Kalachora
Aegisthus: Costas Kladis
Chorus: J. Nikolaidis, K. Kladis, Ch. Kanellis, M. Skiadas, V. Asimakopoulos , G. Housakos, D. Apostolou , Soloists: V.Asimakopoulos.

(Photos: Tasos Stellas)

GREAT ACTOR FOTINI FILOSOFOU WAS A MAJESTIC CLYTEMNESTRA IN AESCHYLUS’ TRAGEDY AGAMEMNON

Fotini Filosofou as Clytemnestra

Athens September 11, 2013 . In the open theater of Municipality of Haidari presented to a full crowd theater Aeschylus’ tragedy Agamemnon by theatrical agency "AIXMI."
The tragic role of Clytemnestra was performed by great Greek tragedian actress Fotini Filosofou where literally riveted audiences with her stage presence and interpretation.
The role of Clytemnestra is one of the biggest classic roles of ancient tragedy that shows so obviously the transition of humanity from matriarchy to patriarchy. Primordial instincts come to surface through the works of Aeschylus, and passions that the subconscious has had hidden deeply in the memory’s oblivion.
Returned to surface an awesome time when mankind subconsciously still has not overcome, that’s why the work of Aeschylus is still topical.
The whole mystery of human existence and the dark depths of the soul incarnate in the person of Clytemnestra that so dramatically Fotini Filosofou interpreted.

The movements of her hands through stunning garment were so attentive to highlight the greatness of the queen. Her voice vindictive, but heartbreaking for the previous sacrifice of Iphigenia.

Few tragedians could properly embody Clytemnestra’s part, like Katina Paxinou, Eleni Papadaki and others, but Fotini Filosofou gave her own mark, indelibly different, hers. She made the role her own and that is an achievement.
The exemplary direction of Yannis Nikolaidis highlighted all aspects of the complex and dark character of Clytemnestra.
As Preacher John Nicolaides undoubtedly convinced, his thought moves and theatrical presence in a very unsettling and difficult role that literally opens and closes the tragedy. With him and under his direction all excellent actors interpreted beautifully their roles. As Agamemnon Zecharias Rochas was remarkable, as well as Cassandra Danae Kalachora gave her best.
Such productions from this theatrical organization under the direction of the indefatigable John Nicolaides will offer the maximum in Ancient Greek Tragedy.
Aeschylus - Agamemnon
Translation: Kostas Politopoulos
Directed by : John Nicolaides
Music : Michael Gliniadakis

Sets: Michael Angelakis
Costumes: Olga Shinas
Assistants. Director: Spyros Konstantoulas
DISTRIBUTION
( In order of appearance)
Guard: Chris Kanellis
Clytemnestra: Fotini Filosofou
Preacher: John Nicolaides
Agamemnon: Zecharias Rohas
Kassandra: Danae Kalachora
Aegisthus: Costas Kladis
Chorus: J. Nikolaidis, K. Kladis, Ch. Kanellis, M. Skiadas, V. Asimakopoulos , G. Housakos, D. Apostolou , Soloists: V. Asimakopoulos.

(Photos: Tasos Stellas)

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, an impressive Coryphaeus in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon

Vasilis Asimakopoulos in Aeschylus’ Agamemnon

Athens September 11, 2013. In the open theater of Municipality of Haidari presented to a full crowd theater Aeschylus’ tragedy Agamemnon by theatrical agency "AIXMI."
Vasilis Asimakopoulos has the prestige, the seriousness and the personality of a born tragedian made for this.

Having studied classical singing bass Vasilis Asimakopoulos is a suited performer for Greek tragedies, and operatic tragedies because there he belongs. His stage presence has the aristocratic physiognomy for the leading roles.

His voice is heavy with metallic bass opera timbre where gives greatness that other many good actors missing because they can not support their voice by the diaphragm.
As a Soloist (Leading singer) Mr. Asimakopoulos was unexcelled, and I don’t think theirs is another troupe in Greece that has or had ever better soloist than him.
If Mr. Asimakopoulos continues in the road of opera combination and tragedy he will be established in an area that few actors ever could.
The tragic role of Clytemnestra the great actor Fotini Filosofou literally riveted audiences with their stage presence and interpretation.
The exemplary direction of Yannis Nikolaidis highlighted all aspects of the complex and dark character of Clytemnestra.
As Preacher John Nicolaides undoubtedly convinced, his thought moves and theatrical presence in a very unsettling and difficult role that literally opens and closes the tragedy. With him and under his direction all excellent actors interpreted beautifully their roles. As Agamemnon Zecharias Rochas was remarkable, as well as Cassandra Danae Kalachora gave her best.
Such productions from this theatrical organization under the direction of the indefatigable John Nicolaides will offer the maximum in Ancient Greek Tragedy.
Aeschylus - Agamemnon
Translation: Kostas Politopoulos
Directed by : John Nicolaides
Music : Michael Gliniadakis
Sets: Michael Angelakis
Costumes: Olga Shinas
Assistants. Director: Spyros Konstantoulas
DISTRIBUTION
( In order of appearance)
Guard: Chris Kanellis
Clytemnestra: Fotini Filosofou
Preacher: John Nicolaides
Agamemnon: Zecharias Rochas
Kassandra: Danae Kalachora
Aegisthus: Costas Kladis
Chorus: J. Nikolaidis, K. Kladis, Ch. Kanellis, M. Skiadas, V. Asimakopoulos , G. Housakos, D. Apostolou , Soloists: V. Asimakopoulos.

(Photos: Tasos Stellas)