Bass Kofi Hayford first performed the roles of Hyllus and
Prometheus at Lincoln Center and got a lot of the audience applauses. Now Kofi
Hayford successfully performed the roles of King Eurystheus, Hyllus and
Prometheus in The Olympic Flame by Panagiotis Karousos at an open-air Festival
in Astoria.
Kofi Hayford’s voice is worm and strong especially in the
middle section. In this performance he also created among with mezzo-soprano
Viktoriya Koreneva the duet of King Eurystheus and High Priestess. This is a
rare duet for bass and mezzo, after the request of mezzo-soprano Viktoriya Koreneva,
which does not exist in the operatic repertoire. The duet much liked from the audience
and get cheer applauses.
On Tuesday, July 5, 2016 the Athens Square in Astoria, New
York was filled with people who came to see the Greek opera "Olympic
Flame" by internationally acclaimed Greek-Canadian composer Panagiotis
Karousos. The Athens Square lived one of the most touching moments of the Greek
Community in New York. They participated exceptional American artists of opera
with amazing stage appearances and high quality voices.
Great dramatic tenor Demetrios Tsinopoulos interpreted the
role of Hercules, the magnificent dramatic soprano Elisabeth Shoup the tragic
role of Deianira, one of American biggest dramatic mezzo voices Ola Rafalo
interpreted the role of Alcmene, the fine bass Kofi Hayford the roles of
Eurystheus, Hyllus and Prometheus, the lovely Greek-American soprano Stella
Papatheodorou interpreted the roles of Iole and Macaria and strong
mezzo-soprano Viktoriya Koreneva the role of High Priestess. The artists
accompanied by pianist Tor Morten Kjøsnes.
In this production composer added to the opera a new duet
King Hurystheus and High Priestess, especially for Viktoriya Koreneva and Kofi
Hayford, in order to create a rare duet for bass and mezzo. The duet was well
performed and especially received by the crowd.
Stage director Eli Markos did a wonderful work with singers
and Despina Chrissochos interpreted the role of narrator Oracle.
Representative of UNESCO Angelika Sandora, gave Certificates
of Honor to all artists and organizers on behalf of
Ioannis Maronitis, president of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands and Member of
the Board of the World Federation of Associations and Club Centres for UNESCO
(UNESCO / WFUCA), responsible for Europe and North America.
The majestic presentation of the
opera followed the UNESCO ceremony included President Ioannis Maronnitis
message and dedication of the performance to the return of the Parthenon
Marbles to Greece, and to proclamation by UNESCO of the year 2016 as “Aristotle
Anniversary Year”.
General organizer Billy Chrissochos, Director of Modern
Music of the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus and Islands NY Chapter, did an
excellent work.
Mr. Billy Chrissochos among with George Delis, President of
the Athens Square Park, and Panos Adamopoulos, Program Director in Greek nights
at the Summer Timetable Athens Square, Greek Nights Summer 2016, dedicated the
opera performance to the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Summer Olympic Games 2016.
Despina Chrissochos welcomed the public introducing the
work: “Modern masterpiece opera "Olympic Flame" by Panagiotis
Karousos, made his triumphant debut at Lincoln Center last April. Now presented
in the United States for a stage production at the Summer Festival of Astoria
on the occasion of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro”.
UNESCO NY director Billy Chrissochos addressed to the
public: “The Olympic Flame by Panagiotis Karousos is an opera in two acts
related to the myth of Hercules and the establishment of the Olympic Games,
tonight the opera will be performed with costumes and stage directing, as a
preparation for our next presentation in a full production in opera theater
with orchestra and our conductor Jestin Pieper”.
The newspaper "National Herald" of New York
devoted a full page with photos and video from the historical presentation of a
first Greek opera in Astoria Festival.
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