Tickets for Turandot at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus go on sale on Friday 25 April 2025 at 12.00

The Greek National Opera will launch the summer season at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus with a majestic new production of Puccini’s masterpiece Turandot. Performances are scheduled for the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th of June 2025. The production will be conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi and directed by Andrei Şerban, with sets and costumes designed by Chloe Obolensky. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, 25 April 2025 at 12.00 and will be available via more.com and the Box Offices of the GNO and the Athens Festival.

Turandot, Giacomo Puccini’s last opera, is the most majestic of them all. His score combines the light elements of Commedia dell’arte, a profound lyricism present in all of his operas, and an element of grandeur reflecting the fantastical imperial China. The opera remained unfinished, as Puccini passed away in 1924, before completing it. It was finished by composer Franco Alfano (1926), based on Puccini’s drafts, while another composer, Luciano Berio, proposed a second ending in 2001.

For this new production of Turandot, which comes 17 years after the last presentation of the opera in Greece, the Greek National Opera is collaborating with highly prestigious world-class artists. The production will be directed by Andrei Şerban, a leading theatre and opera director who has earned worldwide recognition for his groundbreaking and iconoclastic stagings.

The sets and costumes for the production were designed by the internationally acclaimed Greek set and costume designer Chloe Obolensky, marking her first collaboration with the GNO. Obolensky has worked with esteemed directors such as Peter Brook, Franco Zeffirelli, Deborah Warner, Fiona Shaw, Abbas Kiarostami, and Lefteris Vogiatzis, among others, on iconic opera, theatre, and film productions.

To tell Turandot’s fascinating story, Chloe Obolensky and Andrei Şerban, along with their creative team, have crafted a new stage arrangement at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, aiming to explore the shared elements between the ancient civilisations of China and Greece through the sets, costumes, direction, and movement. The natural setting of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is reimagined to host the mythical world of Imperial China, featuring dozens of striking costumes and handcrafted masks, while avoiding stereotypical cultural ornamentation. A new immersive viewing and listening experience at the emblematic space of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, where even the conventional relationship between spectacle and spectators is transformed into a new, profoundly intimate, captivating experience.

Daniela Violeta Dima is responsible for the dramaturgy, while Kate Flatt handled the choreography and movement, with Georgia Tegou serving as associate choreographer and movement coach. Jean Kalman and Simon Trottet designed the lighting.

Turandot’s plot is set in another time, in the distant and exotic China, where Princess Turandot will marry only the one man who can solve her three riddles. All those who have tried, have failed, and have paid the price with their lives. Stunned by her amazing beauty, an unknown prince insists on trying his luck, and he is indeed successful. However, after he solves the riddles, Turandot refuses to marry him. The prince offers her a chance to release herself from her commitment if she can guess his name before the break of dawn.

The production will be led by the internationally acclaimed Italian conductor Pier Giorgio Morandi, who has excelled in the Italian repertoire with hundreds of performances at the world’s most prestigious opera houses and festivals.

The audience will have the opportunity to enjoy world-class opera singers in both casts.

The title role of Turandot will be shared by two acclaimed dramatic sopranos of our time: Lise Lindstrom from America and Catherine Foster from Britain, both hailed as ideal performers of this role.

Calaf will be portrayed by two celebrated tenors, Arsen Soghomonian and Riccardo Massi.

The role of Liù will be performed by the renowned soprano from the GNO, Cellia Costea, and the exceptional young soprano, Maria Kosovitsa, while the role of Timur will be taken on by the distinguished bass from the GNO, Tassos Apostolou.

Alongside them performing will be Haris Andrianos, Yannis Kalyvas, Andreas Karaoulis, Georgios Papadimitriou, and Nicholas Stefanou.

With the Orchestra, Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the Greek National Opera (as part of its educational mission).

Opera • New production

Turandot

Giacomo Puccini

1, 3, 5, 6, 8 June 2025

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Starts at: 21.00

As part of the Athens Epidaurus Festival

Conductor: Pier Giorgio Morandi

Stage director: Andrei Şerban

Dramaturg: Daniela Violeta Dima

Sets, costumes: Chloe Obolensky

Choreography, movement: Kate Flatt

Αssociate choreographer, movement: Georgia Tegou

Lighting: Jean Kalman, Simon Trottet

Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos

Children’s chorus mistress: Konstantina Pitsiakou

Princess Turandot: Lise Lindstrom (1, 5, 8/6) / Catherine Foster (3, 6/6)

Emperor Altoum: Nicholas Stefanou

Timur: Tassos Apostolou

Calaf: Arsen Soghomonian (1, 5, 8/6) / Riccardo Massi (3, 6/6)

Liù: Cellia Costea (1, 3, 5/6) / Maria Kosovitsa (6, 8/6)

Ping: Haris Andrianos

Pang: Yannis Kalyvas

Pong: Andreas Karaoulis

A Mandarin: Georgios Papadimitriou

Young Prince of Persia: Nicholas Stefanou

With the Orchestra, Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the GNO (as part of its educational mission)

Due to the new stage arrangement for the presentation of Turandot at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the seating categories have been modified. Attached, you will find the new seating plan to help audiences book their tickets more easily (here).

Ticket prices

Lower Tier: VIP Zone 1: 130€, VIP Zone 2: 90€, Zone 1: 70€,

Zone 2: 60€, Zone 3 (restricted view seats): 35€

Upper Tier: Zone A: 50€, Zone B: 40€, Zone C: 30€, Zone D: 25€, Zone E: 20

Students, children: 15€, Persons with disabilities: free

Tickets are available on www.more.com, at the GNO Box Office at the SNFCC (+30 2130885700, 9.00-21.00 daily) & the Athens Epidaurus Festival Box Offices (https://aefestival.gr/plirofories-eisitirion/)

Major Sponsor: PPC

Lead Donor of the GNO: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)