Safe at the Greek National Opera (or Mozart in the time of coronavirus)

Safe at the Greek National Opera (or Mozart in the time of coronavirus)

The Greek National Opera informs the public about the protective measures it has taken against the coronavirus with an unusual adaptation of the catalogue aria from Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

After seven months of absence, the Greek National Opera returned with the premiere of Madama Butterfly on Wednesday 14 October at the Stavros Niarchos Hall and the premiere of the ballet Human Behaviour on Friday 16 October on the Alternative Stage.

In line with the instructions of the Greek State, the GNO strictly applies all the measures for the protection of public health against the coronavirus. In this context, armed with the art of opera and the power of Mozart’s music, it presents a new video titled “Safe at the Greek National Opera”, with the goal of informing the public about the protective measures taken in all of its premises at the SNFCC.

In the video, baritone Haris Andrianos performs an adaptation of the catalogue aria from Mozart’s Don Giovanni. In the new version, instead of the list of Don Giovanni’s conquests, the aria talks about the list of protective measures taken by the Greek National Opera against the coronavirus.

Haris Andrianos welcomes us in the GNO foyer at the SNFCC dressed as Leporello (Don Giovanni); he then puts on the uniform of the usher, the box-office cashier, and the cleaning man, he turns into a well-dressed spectator of the Greek National Opera and in the end he goes up on stage in Madama Butterfly’s costume singing the finale of the aria: “safe, here, together, lights, curtain, music!”.

The libretto’s adaptation is by Dimitris Dimopoulos, and Sofia Tamvakopoulou accompanies the performance on the piano. The video is based on an idea of Vassilis Louras and directed by Alexandros Efklidis and Michalis Asthenidis.

In line with the restrictive measures for the protection of public health against the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) announced by the Greek Government, the Greek National started operating at 30% capacity, (with 420 seats out of a total of 1400 at the Stavros Niarchos Hall and 96 seats out of a total of 322 on the Alternative Stage). Moreover, it is noted that according to the instructions of the Greek State, tickets will only be purchased online or by telephone and the use of mask is obligatory when entering and exiting the building and throughout the performances. On either side of each seat (single or double) there will be at least two empty seats left. Overcrowding shall be avoided, and the prescribed physical distance between viewers as well as between the audience and the stage/orchestra shall be maintained. Special protocols are already in place for the cleaning, disinfection, air-conditioning and ventilation system of all areas of the GNO at the SNFCC.

Until the end of December, the Greek National Opera will present the opera Madama Butterfly (until 15/11), the recital 250 years of Beethoven (5/11), the ballet Don Qujote (21/11 – 31/12) and the opera Don Giovanni (12-29/12) at the Stavros Niarchos Hall, as well as the ballet Human Behaviour (16-18/10), the Piano Festival Beethoven’s Piano Works (23/10 – 7/11), the music theatre production for children Four Seasons (1/11-17/1), the chamber operas Akhmatova’s Requiem & The anniversary (20-28/11), the music theater productions LIVER (4-6/12) and The Events (10-13/12), and the musical Into the woods (19/12 – 13/1) on the Alternative Stage.

Ticket presale: www.nationalopera.gr, www.ticketservices.gr, tickets.public.gr

Information – Telephone booking: 2130885700

Lead Donor of the GNO STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION