On Thursday, April 23, 2026, at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea, the opera "Iliad" by Homer was presented with great success in an educational performance with music and libretto by the composer Panagiotis Karousos for the 2nd High School of Kallithea. The opera program with an introductory seminar with the lecturer, the composer Panagiotis Karousos, was presented as part of the "NEW HOMERIDE" program of the Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs and the Directorate of Secondary Education of the 4th District of Athens.
The seminar: "Prosody as a connecting link between opera and ancient Greek literature" was presented by the Teacher-Student Trainer, composer Panagiotis Karousos.
Participants: Musical Ensemble "Rapsodes" and Lyric Soloists. Beautiful Helen and Muse: Irene Konsta (soprano), Andromache and Hecabe: Rea Voudouri (soprano), Narrator and Zeus: Harry Giann (piano and musical direction). Coordination and editing: Rhea Voudouri (soprano). Loukas Georgiadis sound and light (Lighting Design). Artistic Direction: Panagiotis Karousos Welcome was given by Fotiadis Michalis, Principal of the 2nd Gymnasium of Kallithea, and Veroni Irene, Deputy Principal of the 2nd Gymnasium of Kallithea. In the Interactive participation of the students of the 2nd Gymnasium of Kallithea, the group of students was supervised by Athanasios Soloukos, musician, and Eleni Griva, philologist. The students performed a scene from Rhapsody A of Homer's Iliad. Calchas: Vasilis Kritikos, Ulysses: Anastasis Gerasimovoulos, Priest of Chrysis: Christoforos Bras, Chryssis: Konstantina Bartza, Briseis: Melina Vitsa, Achilles: Lydia Sartzetaki, Agamemnon: Spyros Mastoras, Athena: Ermioni Papadopoulou, Thetis: Lina Babousi. The entire school and the teachers applauded the lyrical artists and their participating classmates. The composer Panagiotis Karousos thanked the director of the 2nd Gymnasium of Kallithea, Michalis Fotiadis, the teaching staff and the students for their excellent participation in the opera. He also thanked the Mayor of Kallithea, Mr. Costas Askounis, the Deputy Mayor of Culture, Mr. Giorgos Gerolimatos, and the Deputy Mayor of Education, Mr. Ioannis Emirzas, and the director of the theater, Mr. Loukas Georgiadis, for the concession of the Municipal Theater of Kallithea and the excellent cooperation in the educational and cultural programs. The opera “Iliad” by the internationally renowned composer Panagiotis Karousos is an original creation of musical theater, based on the thematic axis of Mythology with the epic “Iliad of Homer” of ancient Greek literature. A connection of cultural heritage with modern creation with wonderful musical writing and beautiful melodies. The "Iliad" by composer Panagiotis Karoussos is an opera in the footsteps of the great composers of the Italian school of Belcanto and is strongly reminiscent of operas by Verdi and Bellini. Homer's Iliad as a thematic axis permeates all types of Art and lends itself to new interpretations. It concerns a wide range of viewers (from children to adults) and being so multifaceted and multi-layered, we can highlight aspects that are not widely known. Achilleas Papadionisiou, journalist
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