The Hellenic Literary Society to mark their 80th years with the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece presents the opera OLYMPIC FLAME by PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

THE OLYMPIC FLAME
Director Vasilis Asimakopoulos

Opera based on the tragedy of Sophocles “Trachiniae”

                     Dejanira: Irini Konsta, soprano                                                                                 

Hercules & Hyllus: Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Alkmeni: Nansy Papakonstantinou, soprano

Makaria & Ioli: Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

Danae Kioupouroglou, flute - Dimitris Sideris, oboe - Maria Mazaraki, cello 

Triantafilos Vavatsikos, violin - Gulnora Tulyaganova, piano

Wednesday 29 January at 13:00 pm

National Historical Museum
Old Parliament House of Greece
Stadiou 13, Athens, Greece
Free Admission

The Olympic Flame by Panagiotis Karousos is the second part of the Hellenic Tetralogy: "The Dawn of Civilization" (Prometheus - Olympic Flame - Alexander the Great - The Light of Christianity).
The opera relates to the myth of Heracles and the establishment of the Olympic Games, depicting the greatness of human spirit and foresight of the Greeks. It is clearly proven and accepted that Western civilization reputable evolution is based on the philosophical works of Greek antiquity and that we are all descendants of the civilization and culture of that era.
The composer with the Olympic Flame gives us the fundamental concept behind this ancient Greek ritual of touch.

Irini Konsta as Dejanira

The flame as delivered on stage during the Olympic Games is basically a commemoration to the ancient Prometheus act that was stolen from the gods by the Titan and handed over to the people - the flame of knowledge, from which was born the culture and civilization.
In Greek antiquity was a religious ritual designed to bring people closer to the Gods.
The second act of the work based on the tragedy "Trachiniae" by Sophocles.
On Trachiniae, the suffering and mortality of people represented by Deianeira, which she is expiated by her tragic death. Nessus the centaur tries to steal Deianira from Heracles. Angry, Heracles shoots him with his arrows dipped in the poisonous blood of the Lernaean Hydra. Thinking of revenge, Nessus gives Deianira his blood-soaked tunic before he dies, telling her it will "excite the love of her husband".

Deianira, remembering Nessus' words, gives Heracles the bloodstained shirt. However, it is still covered in the Hydra's blood from Heracles' arrows, and this poisons him, tearing his skin and exposing his bones.
At the end of the opera, Prometheus comes after the sacrament of reconciliation with Zeus, and in an apotheosis, Heracles rises to Olympus. It is the reconciliation of people with the God in times of demigods.
The Olympic Flame is an important work of Greek mythology and philosophy, which contributes to the global modern culture.
Panagiotis Karousos has composed music of romantic exaltation inspired by the Ancient Greek beauty (Kallos), as the central idea of the Ancient Greek Spirit, with suffused high lyricism and exuberant romantic fervor. After presenting the premiere of the opera in Canada "Olympic Flame" was evaluated as a work of a genius mind of melodies, comparable to the great works of the classical repertoire.

The opera premiered in Montreal, Canada at the majestic Notre-Dame Basilica in 2005 and in New York in 2007. In Greece the opera presented in the Festival of Papagou 2013, and in Aegina Theatrical Festival Summer 2013.