Success of the opera "Iliad" at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea

 Thursday, March 20, 2025. The educational presentation of Homer's Opera "ILIADA" music and libretto by the composer Panagiotis Karousos was successfully presented at the Municipal Theater of Kallithea with the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea. The opera was presented with an introductory seminar: "Prosody as a connecting link between opera and ancient Greek literature". Lecturer: Panagiotis Karousos, composer (prosody analysis). The members of the "Rhapsodes" Musical Ensemble participated. Irini Konsta (soprano), Rea Voudouri (soprano), Giannis Darios (tenor), Niki Zacharopoulou (chorist), Christiana Manou (piano). Coordination and Artistic Direction: Panagiotis Karousos (music composer). Students of the Theater Group of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea participated interactively with an act of Rhapsody A of Homer's Iliad, under the supervision of Professor Grilis Georgios, theologian. Vasilis - Michael Asproulis (Agamemnon), Panos Lainas (Achilles), Maria Andrikopoulou (Briseis), Vasiliki Papadakou (Athena), Cleopatra Maskalidi (Chryseis), Anna Xefteraki (Thetis), Panagiotis Drimilos (Odysseus), George Nissiotis (Calchas), Nikolas Kontaxis (Chrysis), Christoforos Apostolopoulos (Narrator). Also, the Choral Group of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea wonderfully performed the choral “The Shield of Achilles” from the opera Iliad by Homer under the direction of Niki Zacharopoulou. Greetings were given by Giorgos Gerolymatos, Deputy Mayor of Culture and Events of the Municipality of Kallithea, Nikos Vagenas, Director of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea, and Ifigenia Mantzana, Deputy Director of the 2nd Lyceum of Kallithea. 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, Achilles' aria "Aphthiton kleos", the choral "Aspida tou Achilles", the aria of Oraia Heleni, the aria of Andromache, and the Doxastic Paean "O Patrida Ellada mou" were performed. As part of the seminar that preceded the opera, examples of Prosody on phrases from Homer's Iliad were performed by Rhea Voudouri in lyrical form and the same examples in chant form by tenor Yannis Darreios and Niki Zacharopoulou. The students were particularly impressed by the video showing Maria Callas in the aria "Casta Diva" from Bellini's opera Norma. The entire performance was dedicated to World Poetry Day, which honored Homer, and to the great opera singer Maria Callas, to whom the song “Maria Callas of Our Hearts” was dedicated by the wonderful soprano soloist of the National Opera of Greece Rea Voudouri. This educational performance of the opera Iliad by Homer by Panagiotis Karousos was greatly enjoyed by the students who participated with great interest and enthusiasm and applauded the opera.