The programme for the Greek National Opera’s first official artistic period at its new facilities at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is announced

The press conference was held on the stage of the Stavros Niarchos Hall, where the majority of works in the programme will take place. The Greek National Opera’s new programme, which is divided into 7 cycles and 1 tribute, covers works from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, from all major opera schools (French, German, Italian and Slavic), bringing the audience into contact with operatic masterpieces for the first time, such as Strauss’ Elektra, Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet and Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair, as well as presenting a different take on famous operas such as the Komische Oper Berlin’s version of The Magic Flute, or Lucia di Lammermoor in a co-production with the London Royal Opera. At the same time the 2017-2018 season will relaunch operetta with Nikos Kypourgos’ new operetta based on Bost’s Medea, the acclaimed Stefanos Lazaridis will be remembered with La Bohème and Tosca, in productions which were staged during his time at the Greek National Opera, great operas like Nabucco and Carmen will be presented at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus Theater, and the works of the talented composer Manos Hadjidakis will be recalled. The Greek National Opera’s Corps de Ballet will present a new version of Sleeping Beauty, a children’s version of The Nutcracker, two modern dance pieces featuring choreographies by Andonis Foniadakis and Alexander Ekman, and will also perform in the opera Romeo and Juliet. As part of the Greek National Opera’s opening season at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, relationships and partnerships will be forged with leading Greek and foreign figures from the world of lyric theatre and music including Yannis Kokkos, Graham Vick, Pontus Lidberg, Patrick Kinmonth, Nikos Mastorakis, Johannes Schütz, Katie Mitchell, Barrie Kosky, Alexander Ekman, Giannis Houvardas, Leo Muscato and Nikos Karathanos to name a few, plus up-and-coming and critically acclaimed conductors and soloists. The season’s opening production, Strauss’ Elektra, stars the outstanding Greek mezzo-soprano Agnes Baltsa, in her very first collaboration with the Greek National Opera.