Greek opera star Jenny Drivala awarded the Prize "UNESCO Maria Callas 2016" of the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus & Islands

Friday, December 2, 2016. In the City Hall of Paleo Faliro, Athens, Greece, held the award ceremony «UNESCO Maria Callas 2016" of the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus & Islands to award the world famous soprano Jenny Drivala.

The great artist of the opera interpreted the aria Com'e bello from the opera "Lucrezia Borgia" by Gaetano Donizetti, the aria Bel Raggio lusinghier from the opera "Semiramide" by Gioachino Rossini and the aria, Col sorriso from the opera "The pirate "by Vincenzo Bellini, and was applauded by the audience. The soprano well accompanied on the piano by fine pianist Frixos Mortzos.

Her velvet voice gave all aspects of the Italian bel canto in which she specialized and triumphed in major opera houses around the world.

Also interpreted with bass Vasilis Asimakopulos the Amina / Rodolfo duet from the opera  ‘The Sleepwalker" by Vincenzo Bellini.

For the great soprano Jenny Drivala performed remarkable lyrical artists. The soprano Irini Konsta amazingly interpreted the aria Dich Teure Halle from the opera "Tannhäuser " by Richard Wagner, the talented tenor Theodore Birakos beautifully interpreted the aria of Mercury (Hermes) from the opera "Prometheus Bound" by Panagiotis Karousos, and bass Vasilis Asimakopoulos sung with soprano Irini Konsta the dramatic duet Prometheus and Io from the opera"Prometheus Bound" by Panagiotis Karousos.

The program ended triumphantly with the famous duet Libiamo Ne'lieti Calici from the opera "La Traviata" by Giuseppe Verdi, which involved all the artists on stage led by Jenny Drivala. Artists accompanied by pianist Maria Giavroumi.

It was a high-level opera gala in honor of Maria Callas, who was born as today, by the Club for UNESCO of Piraeus & Islands, along with the award «UNESCO Maria Callas 2016" to great protagonist of the National Opera of Greece soprano Jenny Drivala.

The presentation did Panagiotis Karousos, composer and director of the Opera and Classical Music Department for the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands.

For Jenny Drivala spoke soprano Dimitra Kamitsi, the reporter Elda Georgakopoulou and Fotini Androulaki of Volta magazine.

The awarding of the Prize Maria Callas 2016 to Jenny Drivala and to honorary accolades artists did the Group's delegation of UNESCO Piraeus and Islands, Dr. Anastasios Koutsoukos, Education Director, the Dean Roula Kavakioti and Paul Nisloglou, Honorary President of UNESCO Piraeus and Islands who conveyed the message of the Chairman for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands and Member of the Executive Council of the Clubs World Federation of Associations and UNESCO Centres (WFUCA) for Europe and North America Mr. Ioannis Maronitis.

Dr. Anastasios Koutsoukos thanked the City of Palaio Faliro for cooperation and allocation of the Town Hall room, Dionysis Hatzidakis, Mayor of Palaio Faliro, Konstantinos Nikolaidis, Deputy Mayor of the Cultural Organization of Palaio Faliro, Michael Triantafyllou, Coordinator of the Multiplex Hall Paleo Faliro, and Rena Venardos, Secretary of Culture and Sport Centre of Paleo Faliro Municipality.

The event was coordinated by Hellenic American Center of the Arts and UNESCO.

"December 27, 537 AD: Aghia Sophia – Its History, Architecture and Cultural Contributions" Under the Auspices of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus & Islands

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

"Solomon, I have surpassed thee!"

- Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus Augustus (AKA Justinian I), upon first entering and seeing his completed patriarchal cathedral.

Greetings: Mr. 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, responsible for Europe and North America.

Billy Chrissochos, Director of Modern Music of the New York Chapter of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands.

Panagiotis Karousos, Director of Opera and Classical Music of the Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands.

Dear Friends and Colleagues –

We are very excited to invite you to our upcoming event on Aghia Sophia on Tuesday, December 13th at 6pm at the 3 West Club.

This December marks the One Thousand Four Hundred and Seventy Ninth (1,479th) anniversary of its inauguration by the Emperor Justinian I. Born out of the fires and unrest of the Nika uprising in Constantinople, this magnificent structure was inaugurated just 5 years and 10 months after construction commenced. The 20th Century historian and Philhellene Robert Byron, maintained that the greatness of Byzantium lay in what he described as "the Triple Fusion": that of a Roman body, a Greek mind, and a mystical oriental soul. The same can be said for Aghia Sophia, for it was soon after its inauguration, that this building was perceived far and wide as a unique and crowning achievement of The Eastern Roman Empire.

Aghia Sophia over its long history, has been an Orthodox Patriarchal Cathedral, Catholic Church, Mosque and Museum. More than any other building which has survived from late antiquity, it symbolizes the crossing and meeting of religions, cultures, empires, civilizations and regional hegemons. 1,500 years after its dedication, it has transcended its original function as cathedral, and transformed into both a celebrated and contested symbol emblematic of the history of the Eastern Mediterranean.

We thought it fitting to honor and remember the anniversary of this inauguration by having a panel discussion which will examine the architectural, cultural, historical and geo-political impact that Aghia Sophia has had.

Our evening will commence with an introduction by EMBCA President and Founder, Lou Katsos. John Fotiadis, Vice President of EMBCA, and an Architect with a keen interest in history, will then moderate and participate in a panel consisting of author Alexander Billinis, journalist and commentator Constantine “Dean” Sirigos, and composer Billy Chrissochos. The panelists will give brief presentations and then participate in an open discussion.

This event is being held in association with the New York Chapter of the Hellenic American Institute (AHI) and AHEPA Delphi Chapter 25 of Manhattan. 

We hope you will join us for what promises to be a very stimulating evening!

Best regards - EMBCA
Lou Katsos, John Fotiadis, Ahmed Hassaballa, Nick Machairas

Porphyra will be represented by Billy Chrissochos, Despina Chrissochos and Mike "Risko" Savvas. There will be a live performance by Mr. Savvas on the tzoura presenting music from Porphyra's new album. Also, as a special treat the audience will hear an exclusive track from the band's new album "The Starmaker's Prophecy," called St. Basil's Hymn (a rocked out version of the Kalanta). 

The Club for UNESCO Piraeus and Islands is a proud participant of this important event and will award the distinguish organizers and panel.

Our UNESCO New York Chapter has presented the following highly acclaimed productions under the direction of Billy Chrissochos; The first Greek opera at Lincoln Center, the “Olympic Flame” by Panagiotis Karousos, and Billy Chrissochos’ own “Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera. Anna and Vladimir: the love that ROCKED the world,” which debuted at Carnegie Hall and Off Broadway at the Theatre Players. Both works have been produced in collaboration with the Hellenic American Center of the Arts.

Mr. 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, responsible for Europe and North America.