Saturday 22 June 2019. The Ephorate of Antiquities of the
City of Athens presented the opera
"Prometheus Bound" in Panagiotis Karousos, at the emblematic Monument
"Socrates’ Prison" on Philopappos hill, for the European Music Day
2019 celebrations. At the opera featured prominent singers such as: bass
Vasilis Asimakopoulos (Prometheus), soprano Irini Konsta (Io), mezzo Katerina
Botoni (Violence / Athena), soprano Mariza Kioseoglou (Oceanid), tenor
Chrysostomos Kalogridakis (Kratos / Ocean / Hermes), and pianist Pantelis
Legakis had the musical direction, and accompanied the amazing artists.
Welcome speeches given by Tatiana Poulou, archaeologist at
the Ephorate of Antiquities of the City of Athens, and composer Panagiotis
Karousos. The audience who attended the opera at the Acropolis Archaeological
Site amazed by the music and the spectacular opera singers.
The philosophical symbolism of "Prometheus Bound"
by Aeschylus, translated with a high lyrical poetry by Gryparis, was set to
music by composer Panagiotis Karousos to a play of theatrical prose and
neo-romantic music writing with original melodic motifs and arias of modern
belcanto. The opera is suitable for big voices of the verismo opera style of
the post-Romantic operatic tradition, with vocal jumps imposing special vocal
skills.
Notable moment of the opera was when Prometheus meeting with
Io, performed by unique bass Vasilis Asimakopoulos and the dramatic soprano
Irini Konsta, the two great artists led us to a deep drama, unprecedented on
the Greek opera tradition.
Also, the scene of the condemnation of Prometheus, at the
finale of the opera with the arrival of the goddess Athena was impressively
attributed by the excellent mezzo Katerina Botoni.
The arias of Ocean and Hermes, respectively performed by
soprano Mariza Kioseoglou and tenor Chrysostomos Kalogridakis, enthused the
audience with their melodicity.
Among the spectators, the poet, George Stavrakis, of the
Greek Literary Society, congratulated the artists for the wonderful performance
of the opera "Prometheus Bound".
German choreographer Sacha von Gerlach was also enthusiastic
about the opera and congratulated Panagiotis Karousos and archaeologists for
the initiative to present the opera in this iconic archaeological site.
The imposing archaeological site of Philopappou and the
Prison of Socrates, presents us with an imaginary link, transferring us in a
link between the text of Aeschylus and Socrates' words. How the greatest
philosopher Socrates was condemned by the people, with the accusation of
disrespect for the gods, and that the greatest revolutionary Titan Prometheus
was condemned by the gods.
Both opposed to the heathenish government
by accepting their punishment as the absolute good of freedom of thought.
The world was welcomed by Pelagia Zaloumi, Museum and
Archaeological Site Guard at the Ephorate of Antiquities of Athens, and guard
Ioannis Karoulas shape the space in order to present the opera. Chairs for the
public gave the Restaurant Dionysus Zonar's.
