UNESCO OPERA GALA MARIA CALLAS 2014

UNESCO CLUB OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PIRAEUS & ISLANDS

UNESCO OPERA GALA MARIA CALLAS 2014

UNESCO MARIA CALLAS AWARDS 2014

Guest of Honor Yannis Moralis, Mayor of Piraeus

WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2014

MUNICIPAL ART GALLERY OF PIRAEUS

29 Filonos street (Old Post Office building) – 9pm – Free Admission

Presentation: Panagiotis Karousos, composer.

Greetings: Ioannis Maronitis - President of Club for Unesco of the Departments of Piraeus and Islands, and Vice President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations (WFUCA) for Europe and North America.

Starring:

Irene Konsta, soprano - Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Vanessa Kalkani, soprano – Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Anastasios Stellas, tenor - Nansy Papakonstadinou, soprano

Eleni Liggri, viola - Victoria Kiazimi, piano

Program:

Giacomo Puccini - Madame Butterfly - Un bel di vedremo

Nansy Papakonstadinou, soprano

Giuseppe Verdi - Rigoletto - La donna è mobile

Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Giacomo Puccini - Gianni Schicchi - O Mio Babbino Caro

Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Vincenzo Bellini - Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni - La sonnambula

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Gioacchino Rossini - Una voce poco fa - Il Barbiere di Siviglia

Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

Giacomo Puccini - Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore – Tosca

Irene Konsta, soprano

Prometheus Bound by Panagiotis Karousos

Via aria Nansy Papakonstadinou, soprano

Prometheus aria Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Vincenzo Bellini, Casta Diva, Norma Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Hermes aria Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Hera aria Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

Trio Prometheus, Ocean, Oceanide

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, Anastasios Stellas, Maria Lyberakou

Duet Prometheus, Io

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass - Irene Konsta, soprano

Verdi - La Traviata –Brindisi: Libiamo ne' lieti calici

The Club for UNESCO of the Departments of Piraeus and Islands has the honour to present an Opera Gala in order to mark the anniversary of Maria Callas (1923 – 1977). We present some of the finest Greek opera talented artists and works by renowned Greek-Canadian opera composer Panagiotis Karousos. 

Maria Callas, (Greek: Μαρία Κάλλας; December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977), was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic gifts. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini and further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina.

AT THE TEMPLE OF POSEIDON AT CAPE SOUNION THE OPERA «PROMETHEUS BOUND» BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS STARRING VASILEIOS ASIMAKOPOULOS

TEMPLE OF POSEIDON AT CAPE SOUNION

PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

PROMETHEUS BOUND

 Starring:

Prometheus: Vasileios Asimakopoulos, bass

Io/Goddess Athena: Irene Konsta, soprano

Ocean/Hermes: Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Via/Oceanide/Amphitrite: Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Goddess Hera: Vanessa Kalkanis, soprano

Vivi Kleisoura, piano

Directed by Vasileios Asimakopoulos

Production by Hellenic American Center of the Arts

PROMETHEUS BOUND AT TEMPLE OF POSEIDON

SUNDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2014 AT 7PM

Sanctuary of Poseidon at Sounio

European Heritage days in Greece 2014

«The Faces of Time»

Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Few words about the opera “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos

Vasileios Asimakopoulos, Irene Konsta

Based on Aeschylus tragedy “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos first premiered in Montreal, Canada in 1994 and played in French until 2000.  In 1998 the work presented in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills City Hall with a great success. In 2008 represented in New York and Washington in English under the direction of maestro Grant Gilman, and American soloists from the opera of New York. The opera impressed with the high lyricism and characterized as a divine music composition work. In Greece Prometheus Bound presented at the Municipal Theatres of Athens, Salamina, Argostoli, Lixouri, Ithaca, Cholargos, Chalkis, at the Concert Hall of the Greek Writers, in “Parnassos” Concert Hall, in the Old Parliament House, at the Theatre Veakeio, and the Theatre “Jenny Karezi”. In 2013 bass Vasileios Asimakopoulos did unforgettable presentations of the opera as a director and leading role at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, the Ancient Theatre Ekklesiasterion (Odeon) in Ancient Messene, the Ancient Agora at the Ancient Site of Acropolis, and the National Archeological Museum of Greece, and performed the main arias of the opera at “Parnassos” Concert Hall conducted by E. Kalkanis.

Panagiotis Karousos is a renowned Greek-Canadian composer who brings to his music the philosophy and spiritualism of the Greek classics. He successfully presented all his operas (Prometheus, Olympic Flame, Alexander the Great, Light of Christianity) around major North American cities. His Symphony No.1 “Liberty” presented in New York with the Astoria Symphony and maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. His Piano Concerto No.1 performed in Montreal Canada under the auspices of UNESCO in 2000. Also his Symphony No.2 “Olympic” performed in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal with the OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andre Gauthier. Recently the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens conducted by E. Kalkanis premiered his Symphony No.4 “Earth” (February 2014).

Temple of Poseidon. Cape Sounion is noted as the site of ruins of an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon, the god of the sea in classical mythology. The remains are perched on the headland, surrounded on three sides by the sea. The ruins bear the deeply engraved name of English Romantic poet Lord Byron (1788–1824). The site is a popular day-excursion for tourists from Athens, with sunset over the Aegean Sea, as viewed from the ruins, a sought-after spectacle. Cape Sounion is the spot where Aegeus, king of Athens, leapt to his death off the cliff, thus giving his name to the Aegean Sea.

European Heritage Days. Council of Europe, European Union. Every year in September, the 50 signatory States to the European Cultural Convention take part in the European Heritage Days – a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, putting new cultural assets on view and opening up historical buildings normally closed to the public. The cultural events highlight local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art, but the broader aim is to bring citizens together in harmony even though there are differences in cultures and languages.

Each year, national and regional events are organised around a special theme. These themes vary in each country from year to year. They include such topics as:

- specific forms of heritage (e.g. farmhouses, musical instruments, culinary traditions, garden architecture);

- specific periods in history (e.g. the Medieval heritage, the Baroque heritage);

- society's approaches to heritage (e.g. heritage and citizenship, heritage and youth).

The Council of Europe and the European Commission encourage the selection of trans-national themes which can be illustrated by cross-border activities that are jointly set up by the different countries.

Since 1999, the European Heritage Days have a permanent slogan: "Europe, a common heritage".

The joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, in close cooperation with the group of national coordinators ensures the success of the European Heritage Days.

PROMETHEUS BOUND BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS AT THE TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS

TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS

 PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

PROMETHEUS BOUND

Starring:

Prometheus: Vasileios Asimakopoulos, bass

Io/Goddess Athena: Irene Konsta, soprano

Ocean/Hermes: Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Via/Oceanide: Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Goddess Hera: Vanessa Kalkanis, soprano

Rania Zetta, viola - Vivi Kleisoura, piano

Directed by Vasileios Asimakopoulos

Production by Hellenic American Center of the Arts

PROMETHEUS BOUND AT THE OLYMPIEION

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2014

Columns of the Olympian Zeus

(Vassilisis Olgas Av., Athens) Time: 7pm

European Heritage days in Greece 2014

«The Faces of Time»

Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Few words about the opera “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos

Vasileios Asimakopoulos as Prometheus in Ancient Messina Theatre 

Based on Aeschylus tragedy “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos first premiered in Montreal, Canada in 1994 and played in French until 2000.  In 1998 the work presented in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills City Hall with a great success. In 2008 represented in New York and Washington in English under the direction of maestro Grant Gilman, and American soloists from the opera of New York. The opera impressed with the high lyricism and characterized as a divine music composition work. In Greece Prometheus Bound presented at the Municipal Theatres of Athens, Salamina, Argostoli, Lixouri, Ithaca, Cholargos, Chalkis, at the Concert Hall of the Greek Writers, in “Parnassos” Concert Hall, in the Old Parliament House, at the Theatre Veakeio, and the Theatre “Jenny Karezi”. In 2013 bass Vasileios Asimakopoulos did unforgettable presentations of the opera as a director and leading role at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, the Ancient Theatre Ekklesiasterion (Odeon) in Ancient Messene, the Ancient Agora at the Ancient Site of Acropolis, and the National Archeological Museum of Greece, and performed the main arias of the opera at “Parnassos” Concert Hall conducted by E. Kalkanis.

Panagiotis Karousos is a renowned Greek-Canadian composer who brings to his music the philosophy and spiritualism of the Greek classics. He successfully presented all his operas (Prometheus, Olympic Flame, Alexander the Great, Light of Christianity) around major North American cities. His Symphony No.1 “Liberty” presented in New York with the Astoria Symphony and maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. His Piano Concerto No.1 performed in Montreal Canada under the auspices of UNESCO in 2000. Also his Symphony No.2 “Olympic” performed in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal with the OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andre Gauthier. Recently the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens conducted by E. Kalkanis premiered his Symphony No.4 “Earth” (February 2014).

The Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Atheniantyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun. During the Roman periods it was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.

European Heritage Days. Council of Europe, European Union. Every year in September, the 50 signatory States to the European Cultural Convention take part in the European Heritage Days – a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, putting new cultural assets on view and opening up historical buildings normally closed to the public. The cultural events highlight local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art, but the broader aim is to bring citizens together in harmony even though there are differences in cultures and languages.

Each year, national and regional events are organised around a special theme. These themes vary in each country from year to year. They include such topics as:

- specific forms of heritage (e.g. farmhouses, musical instruments, culinary traditions, garden architecture);

- specific periods in history (e.g. the Medieval heritage, the Baroque heritage);

- society's approaches to heritage (e.g. heritage and citizenship, heritage and youth).

The Council of Europe and the European Commission encourage the selection of trans-national themes which can be illustrated by cross-border activities that are jointly set up by the different countries.

Since 1999, the European Heritage Days have a permanent slogan: "Europe, a common heritage".

The joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, in close cooperation with the group of national coordinators ensures the success of the European Heritage Days.

The Club UNESCO of Kefalonia & Ithaca inaugurates a new cultural venue in Cephalonia at “Maspali hills” with Panagiotis Karousos’ opera “Prometheus Bound”.

The Club UNESCO of Kefalonia & Ithaca

with the collaboration of the Cultural Association Mantzavinata-Vouni “Kounoupetra” celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of the Ionian Islands with Greece 1864-2014 at the «Maspali hill» with the opera of  

 PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

PROMETHEUS BOUND

Directed by Vasileios Asimakopoulos

Starring:

Prometheus: Vasileios Asimakopoulos, bass

Io/Goddess Athena: Irene Konsta, soprano

Ocean/Hermes: Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Via/Oceanide: Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Goddess Hera: Vanessa Kalkanis, soprano

Vivi Kleisoura, piano

Production by Hellenic American Center of the Arts

MASPALI HILL   

Saturday 20 September at 7:30pm

Maspali Hill, Mantzavinata, Kefalonia, Greece

FREE ADMISSION

The Club UNESCO of Kefalonia & Ithaca in order to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Unification of the Ionian Islands with Greece (1864-2014), inaugurates a new cultural venue in Cephalonia at “Maspali hill” Mantzavinata Lixouri, with the Cephalonian composer Panagiotis Karousos’ opera “Prometheus Bound”. In March 2014 the fine artists invited among with the composer to perform the opera in New York at Queens Auditorium and in United Nations Manhattan under the UNESCO auspices. The Maspali hill was perhaps an ancient acropolis.

Few words about the opera “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos

Prometheus: Vasileios Asimakopoulos, bass
Municipal Theatre of Lixouri (Kefalonia 2013)

Based on Aeschylus tragedy “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos first premiered in Montreal, Canada in 1994 and played in French until 2000.  In 1998 the work presented in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills City Hall with a great success. In 2008 represented in New York and Washington in English under the direction of maestro Grant Gilman, and American soloists from the opera of New York. The opera impressed with the high lyricism and characterized as a divine music composition work. In Greece Prometheus Bound presented at the Municipal Theatres of Athens, Salamina, Argostoli, Lixouri, Ithaca, Cholargos, Chalkis, at the Concert Hall of the Greek Writers, in “Parnassos” Concert Hall, in the Old Parliament House, at the Theatre Veakeio, and the Theatre “Jenny Karezi”. In 2013 bass Vasileios Asimakopoulos did unforgettable presentations of the opera as a director and leading role at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, the Ancient Theatre Ekklesiasterion (Odeon) in Ancient Messene, the Ancient Agora at the Ancient Site of Acropolis, and the National Archeological Museum of Greece, and performed the main arias of the opera at “Parnassos” Concert Hall conducted by E. Kalkanis.

Panagiotis Karousos is a renowned Greek-Canadian composer who brings to his music the philosophy and spiritualism of the Greek classics. He successfully presented all his operas (Prometheus, Olympic Flame, Alexander the Great, Light of Christianity) around major North American cities. His Symphony No.1 “Liberty” presented in New York with the Astoria Symphony and maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. His Piano Concerto No.1 performed in Montreal Canada under the auspices of UNESCO in 2000. Also his Symphony No.2 “Olympic” performed in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal with the OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andre Gauthier. Recently the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens conducted by E. Kalkanis premiered his Symphony No.4 “Earth”. 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF MOUNTAIN CONCERT PROGRAM 11 DECEMBER 2014 ATHENS GREECE

The Club of UNESCO Piraeus & Islands with the Hellenic-American Center of the Arts presents at Concert Hall “Parnassos” a Classical Music Concert for the International Mountain Day 2014 (Mountain Farming) of United Nations Organization 

A MOUNTAIN DAY CONCERT 

WITH WORKS BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2014 (UNITED NATIONS) 

THURSDAY 11 DESCEMBER 2014 AT 21:00

CONCERT HALL PARNASSOS

8 St. George, Karytsi Sq., 10561 Athens, Greece

Greetings by Ioannis Maronitis, president of Club for Unesco of the Departments of Piraeus and Islands and Vice President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs.

HELLENIC ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE

CONDUCTED BY ELEFTHERIOS KALKANIS 

Program:

Tuba Concerto “the Mountain” World Premiere

Dedicated to the International Mountain Day 

Panagiotis Kamvisidis, tuba

Olympic Flame: Deianira’s aria “Don’t refuse” 

Irini Konsta, soprano

Olympic Flame: Hyllus aria "Last night in the darkness" 

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Prometheus Bound: Oceanide aria “Prometheus”

Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

Fantasia for Flute “Pan”

Zacharias Tarpagos, flute

Prometheus Bound: Hera aria “In the rudder of heaven”

Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

Prometheus Bound: Prometheus aria «Now alone»  

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Olympic Flame: Deianira’s cavatina “I am afraid”

Irini Konsta, soprano

Concerto for Cello  

Spyros Heimarios (cello)

Prometheus & Io duet

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass – Irini Konsta, soprano

Concerto for Violin «maestoso - adagio - allegretto» 

Efi Christodoulou, violin

Olympic Flame Macaria &  Hyllus duet  

Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass – Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

HELLENIC ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE

under the direction of maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis

Violins: Efi Christodoulou, Stavroula Menti, Christina Valder, Paraskevi Kourkoumeli,

Stella Ziopoulou, Maria Orfanou-Heimariou - Violas: Eleni Liggri, Rania Zetta

Cello: Spyros Heimarios - Contrabass: Anastasia Siachou

Flutes: Nadia Lidiridi, Zacharias Tarpagos - Oboe: Georgia Kostantopoulou 

Horn: Christos Kaloudis - Clarinets: Thanasis Katerinakis, Panagiotis Markou 

Tuba: Panagiotis Kamvisidis

International Mountain Day - 11 December 2014 (Mountain Farming)

A concert for the mountains of Greece

The Hellenic-American Center of the Arts presents under the auspices of the Club of UNESCO Piraeus & Islands a classical music concert to mark the International Mountain Day. The concert will take place on December 11, 2014 at 21:00, at the Parnassos Concert Hall Athens, Greece located on 8 St. George, Karytsi Sq., 10561. The program will include works by Panagiotis Karousos and the Hellenic Orchestra Ensemble conducted by Eledtherios Kalkanis. The concert represents an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the strengths and weaknesses in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands. The concert is dedicated in particular to the mountains of Greece: Mount Olympus and Athos. Soloists: Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass, Irini Konsta, soprano, Vanessa Kalkani, soprano, Zacharias Tarpagos, flute, Efi Christodoulou, violin, Spyros Heimarios, cello, Panagiotis Kamvisidis, tuba. 

International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands.

This year, the theme for IMD is Mountain Farming. Here we have an opportunity to raise awareness about how mountain agriculture, which is predominantly family farming, has been a model for sustainable development for centuries.

International Mountain Day 2014 provides an occasion to highlight how family farming in mountain regions is undergoing rapid transformation due to population growth, economic globalization, urbanization and the migration of men and youth to urban areas.

At the same time, these changes can provide opportunities for local development. People who reside in mountain areas can diversify their income by engaging activities such as tourism, high value mountain products and handicrafts. An enabling policy environment that includes tailored investments could improve farmers’ access to resources and increase their capacity to generate income. The theme to the International Year of Family Farming 2014 proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as the forthcoming International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) course on mountain family farming, and the FAO/MP publication ‘Mountain Farming is Family Farming’.

http://hellenicamericancenterofthearts.blogspot.gr/2014/09/a-concert-for-mountains-of-greece-to.html

A CONCERT FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF GREECE TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2014 (UNITED NATIONS)

The Hellenic-American Center of the Arts presents at Concert Hall “Parnassos” a Classical Music Concert for the International Mountain Day 2014 (Mountain Farming)

 A MOUNTAIN DAY CONCERT

WITH WORKS BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2014 (UNITED NATIONS)

http://www.fao.org/forestry/internationalmountainday/80416/en/

Under the auspices of the Club of UNESCO Piraeus & Islands 
 International Mountain Day 2014 (Mountain Farming) of United Nations Organization 

A MOUNTAIN DAY CONCERT 
WITH WORKS BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY 2014 (UNITED NATIONS) 

THURSDAY 11 DESCEMBER 2014 AT 21:00
CONCERT HALL PARNASSOS
8 St. George, Karytsi Sq., 10561 Athens, Greece
Greetings by Ioannis Maronitis, president of Club for Unesco of the Departments of Piraeus and Islands and Vice President of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs.

HELLENIC ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE
CONDUCTED BY ELEFTHERIOS KALKANIS 
Program:
Tuba Concerto “the Mountain” World Premiere
Dedicated to the International Mountain Day 
Panagiotis Kamvisidis, tuba
Olympic Flame: Deianira’s aria “Don’t refuse” 
Irini Konsta, soprano
Olympic Flame: Hyllus aria "Last night in the darkness" 
Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass
Prometheus Bound: Oceanide aria “Prometheus”
Vanessa Kalkani, soprano
Fantasia for Flute “Pan”
Zacharias Tarpagos, flute
Prometheus Bound: Hera aria “In the rudder of heaven”
Vanessa Kalkani, soprano
Prometheus Bound: Prometheus aria «Now alone»  
Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass
Olympic Flame: Deianira’s cavatina “I am afraid”
Irini Konsta, soprano
Concerto for Cello  
Spyros Heimarios (cello)
Prometheus & Io duet
Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass – Irini Konsta, soprano
Concerto for Violin «maestoso - adagio - allegretto» 
Efi Christodoulou, violin
Olympic Flame Macaria &  Hyllus duet  
Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass – Vanessa Kalkani, soprano

HELLENIC ORCHESTRA ENSEMBLE
under the direction of maestro Eleftherios Kalkanis
Violins: Efi Christodoulou, Stavroula Menti, Christina Valder, Paraskevi Kourkoumeli,
Stella Ziopoulou, Maria Orfanou-Heimariou - Violas: Eleni Liggri, Rania Zetta
Cello: Spyros Heimarios - Contrabass: Anastasia Siachou
Flutes: Nadia Lidiridi, Zacharias Tarpagos - Oboe: Georgia Kostantopoulou 
Horn: Christos Kaloudis - Clarinets: Thanasis Katerinakis, Panagiotis Markou 
Tuba: Panagiotis Kamvisidis

International Mountain Day - 11 December 2014 (Mountain Farming)
A concert for the mountains of Greece
The Hellenic-American Center of the Arts presents under the auspices of the Club of UNESCO Piraeus & Islands a classical music concert to mark the International Mountain Day. The concert will take place on December 11, 2014 at 21:00, at the Parnassos Concert Hall Athens, Greece located on 8 St. George, Karytsi Sq., 10561. The program will include works by Panagiotis Karousos and the Hellenic Orchestra Ensemble conducted by Eleftherios Kalkanis. The concert represents an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the strengths and weaknesses in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands. The concert is dedicated in particular to the mountains of Greece: Mount Olympus and Athos. Soloists: Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass, Irini Konsta, soprano, Vanessa Kalkani, soprano, Zacharias Tarpagos, flute, Efi Christodoulou, violin, Spyros Heimarios, cello, Panagiotis Kamvisidis, tuba. 
International Mountain Day is an opportunity to create awareness about the importance of mountains to life, to highlight the opportunities and constraints in mountain development and to build partnerships that will bring positive change to the world’s mountains and highlands.
This year, the theme for IMD is Mountain Farming. Here we have an opportunity to raise awareness about how mountain agriculture, which is predominantly family farming, has been a model for sustainable development for centuries.
International Mountain Day 2014 provides an occasion to highlight how family farming in mountain regions is undergoing rapid transformation due to population growth, economic globalization, urbanization and the migration of men and youth to urban areas.
At the same time, these changes can provide opportunities for local development. People who reside in mountain areas can diversify their income by engaging activities such as tourism, high value mountain products and handicrafts. An enabling policy environment that includes tailored investments could improve farmers’ access to resources and increase their capacity to generate income. The theme to the International Year of Family Farming 2014 proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations, as well as the forthcoming International Programme on Research and Training on Sustainable Management of Mountain Areas (IPROMO) course on mountain family farming, and the FAO/MP publication ‘Mountain Farming is Family Farming’.

http://hellenicamericancenterofthearts.blogspot.gr/2014/09/international-day-of-mountain-2014.html

PROMETHEUS BOUND OPERA AT THE "PERISTERI GROVE" ATHENS GREECE

THE MUNICIPALITY OF PERISTERI PRESENT

PROMETHEUS BOUND

        BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

              based on Aeschylus tragedy

          STARRING VASILIS ASIMAKOPOULOS

“Cultural September 2014”

Festival of Municipality of Peristeri

          SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2014 AT 21:00

AMPHITHEATRE "LAUREL AND OLIVE"

Prometheus: Vasilis Asimakopoulos, bass

Io/Athena: Irini Konsta, soprano

Ocean/Hermes: Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Violence/Oceanide: Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Rania Zetta: viola - Vivi Kleisoura: piano

Stage Director: Vasilis Asimakopoulos 

Production & Costumes: Hellenic American Center of the Arts

Few words about the opera “Prometheus Bound”:
Prometheus Bound by Panagiotis Karousos first premiered in Montreal, Canada in 1994 and played in French until 2000.
In 1998 presented in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills City Hall with a great success.
In 2008 represented in New York and Washington DC in English under the direction of maestro Grant Gilman, and American soloists from the opera of New York.

The opera impressed with the high lyricism and characterized as a divine music composition work.
In Greece Prometheus Bound presented at the Municipal Theatres of Corinth, Argostoli, Lixouri, Ithaca, Cholargos, Chalkis, at the Concert Hall of the Greek Writers, in Parnassos Concert Hall, in the Old Parliament House, at the Theatre Veakio, at the Municipal Theater of Athens, at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus and at the Ancient Theatre Ekklesiasterion (Odeon) in Ancient Messene.
Also in June 2013 staged at Theatre Jenny Karezi under the supervision of renowned actor Kostas Kazakos. In March 2014 “Prometheus Bound” presented in United Nations Headquarters Manhattan and in Queens New York with Vasilis Asimakopoulos at the leading role, under the UNESCO auspices.

The music of the opera "Prometheus Bound" by Panagiotis Karousos considered masterful, original, with a doric simplicity and grandeur. The Greek Canadian composer Panagiotis Karousos, was awarded by the Federal Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec for his contribution to the arts.