The opera "Iliad" by Panagiotis Karousos at the 52nd High School of Athens in the successful "New Homerics" program of the Ministry of Education

 Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The educational presentation of Homer's Opera "ILIADA" to music and libretto by composer Panagiotis Karousos was successfully presented at the 52nd Athens High School in Kolonos - Event Hall of the 52nd Athens High School. The opera was presented with an introductory seminar: "Prosody as a connecting link between opera and ancient Greek literature". Teacher-Student Trainer: Panagiotis Karousos, composer (prosody analysis).

The great opera soprano Rhea Voudouri participated in the role of Beautiful Helen, who impressed the students and was applauded. The members of the "Rhapsodes" Musical Ensemble participated. Rhea Voudouri (soprano), Yiannis Darrios (tenor), Niki Zacharopoulou (chorus), Sofia Daraki (chorus), and on the piano accompanied by the excellent musician Harry Giann (piano). Coordination and Artistic Direction: Panagiotis Karousos (music composer).
Students of the Theater Group of the 52nd High School of Athens participated interactively with a performance of Rhapsody A of Homer's Iliad under the supervision of professors Marina Tsintzou, philologist and Sofia Gasteratou, philologist. Students: Dimitris Tsintzouras (Chrysis), Eva Touni (Calchas), Polykarpos Hetzakis (Odysseus), Emmelia Goufourova (Agamemnon), Achilles Tsikas (Achilles), Natalia Soulko (Narrator), Danae Dede (Athena), Erika Balla (Chrysis), Konstantina Floraki (Briseis), Christina Peta (Thetis).
Also, the Choir of the 52nd High School of Athens beautifully performed the choral "The Shield of Achilles" from the opera Iliad by Homer under the direction of Katerina Mimikou, Music Director. Evangelos Mourlas, Director of the 52nd Athens High School, gave a welcome speech.
The presentation of the program of the Opera “ILIADA” by Homer was greatly appreciated by the students who applauded the excellent artists and their participating classmates. The Hymn to the Muse, the aria of Achilles “Aphthiton kleos”, the choral "The Shield of Achilles", the aria of Beautiful Helen, and the Pæan Triumphal “O my country, Greece” were performed. As part of the seminar that preceded the opera, examples of Prosody on phrases from Homer’s Iliad were performed by the tenor Yannis Darreios in lyrical form and the same examples in chant form by Niki Zacharopoulou and Sofia Daraki.
It was a successful presentation of the opera-oratorio program Homer's Iliad set to music by Panagiotis Karousos as part of the educational Panhellenic Program "New Homerics" of the Ministry of Education.