THE FEDERATION OF HELLENIC
SOCIETIES OF GREATER NEW YORK PRESENTED
AT LINCOLN CENTER THE OPERA
OLYMPIC FLAME
BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS
A MODERN MASTERPIECE BASED ON SOPHOCLES’ TRAGEDY TRACHINEAE
Internationally acclaimed
composer, Panagiotis Karousos, went to New York for a historic presentation of
the first Greek opera at Lincoln Center, to mark the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio
de Janeiro. The presentation was
marvelous with a standing ovation from the worm audience, cheer applauses and
overwhelming crowd made the artists to extend one extra hour at the stage of
the Bruno Walter Hall, receiving calls and take pictures.
It was a fabulous performance from all artists, young talented New Yorkers that promises more future presentations of the opera.
The composer Mr. Panagiotis
Karousos congratulated the fine conductor Jestin Pieper, the performers Elisabeth Shoup, Soprano, Demetrios John Tsinopoulos,
tenor, Kofi Hayford, bass, Stella Papatheodorou, soprano, Viktoriya Koreneva, mezzo-soprano, as
well the Stage director Elias Markos, and Production manager
Billy Chrissochos, for an excellent work and dedication to his work.
Saturday, March 26th 2016 at 8pm
LINCOLN
CENTER
OF
THE PERFORMING ARTS
HELLENIC AMERICAN ORCHESTRA
CONDUCTED BY JESTIN PIEPER
Deianira: Elisabeth Shoup, Soprano
Heracles: Demetrios John Tsinopoulos, tenor
Hyllos & Prometheus: Kofi Hayford, bass
Macaria & Iole: Stella Papatheodorou, soprano
Alkmene: Viktoriya Koreneva, mezzo-soprano
Stage
director: Elias Markos
Production
manager: Billy Chrissochos
A
co-production of the Hellenic American Center of the Arts
THE OLYMPIC FLAME by Panagiotis
Karousos
The Olympic Flame (Montreal 2005) is an opera in two acts related to the
legend of Heracles and the founding of the Olympic Games.
It is the second operatic work by Panagiotis Karousos, which along with
“Prometheus” (first performed in Greek at the Place des Arts, in June of 1994
and subsequently in its French version in June of 1996) and “Alexander the
Great” (Canada 2007) is part of a trilogy depicting the greatness of the human
spirit and the humanism of the “Hellenes” as is stated in the philosophical
works of Greek antiquity and clearly indicates that we are all descendants of
the culture and civilization of that era.
The opera in its entirety is based on the Olympic flame and as it unfolds
gives us the fundamental meaning behind this ancient Greek religious ritual,
for that is what it is.
The flame as we know it furring
the Olympics is basically a simple commemoration/re-enactment of the flame as
was stolen from the Gods by Prometheus and brought to the people. The flame of
knowledge, from which civilizations were born. In Greek antiquity it was a
religious ritual, with the purpose of bringing of the people closer to the Gods.
Its second act is based on the tragedy “Trachiniæ” by Sophocles. In the
Trachiniæ, are described the sufferings of Heracles and the levity of
Dëianira, atoned for by her death;
“The Olympic Flame” is a presentation of a major work of Greek mythology
and philosophy, and in turn its contribution to world civilization.
The composition and orchestration of the opera is influenced by the
post-romantic era in music and by other classical elements in Greek antiquity
thus making it an avant-garde opera of the new millennium. Dominant in this work as in others by
Panagiotis Karousos is the exaltation of lyricism, which relates well to
ancient Greek tragedy due to the fact that they are both lyrical works and
Greek tragic poetry is lyrical.
The opera World Premiered in Montreal’s Cathedral at Notre-Dame Basilica
with soloists, choir and large Symphony Orchestra conducted by maestro Andre
Gauthier. The Olympic Flame choir was presented with the
Symphony Orchestra and the Choir of Gunst wat'n Kunst at Hague, Holland, with
maestro R. Pylarinos. In Greece
the opera presented at the Old Parliament House of Greece with costumes
directed by bass Vasilis Asimakopoulos. Maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis of Athens
Symphony Orchestra conducted highlights of the opera in concert halls and radio
programs Broadcasted live from Greek National Radio and Attica TV.
The bel-canto style of the
arias and melancholic romanticism praised the work as a major operatic
masterpiece of the new era in opera “An exaltation of lyricism never hear before”.
Among with Prometheus and Alexander the Great contribute as the most important
operatic works in Greek history of classical music.
