Greek National Opera Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

  
The Greek National Opera sits in the centre of Athens, in Akadimias Street. It presents productions of high-class operas and ballets, operettas, operas for children, and recitals. The National Opera perform concerts, also, events in the Foyer of theatre Olympia, as adaptations of arias and songs for cello and piano, operetta nights, “children’s chamber music”, as lullabies, fairytales, and songs, music for voice, flute, and piano. Also, the opera shows "suitcase opera", an exclusive donation of Stavros Niarchos Foundation, involving the famous opera “Pagliacci”, the great, Italian opera -two-act work- of Ruggero Leoncavallo, which performs in various cities of Greece.

Presentations of opera are given in Olympia Theatre, which includes the Children’s Stage, in Athens Concert Hall and the famous Odeon of Herodes Atticus, known as "Herodeion". Greek National Opera building includes also Athens Opera Studio and the Greek National Opera School of Dance, as well as educational programs, that are addressed at all age groups. The repertory of Opera in Greece covers four centuries of lyric theater, from the work of Claudio Monteverdi to modern Greek authors. 

THE GREEK NATIONAL OPERA

The Greek National Opera was founded in 1940. From 1940 up to 1944 the opera company was operating as a part of the National Theatre. It has been giving performances in its historic neoclassical building in the scene of theatre Tsiller, which is designed by the famous German architect Ernst Ziller and sits in the road of Saint Konstantinos, in the centre of Athens. In 1944 the company became a state-run corporation, extracted by the National Theatre, and nowadays functions as a private, state-funded organization. From 1959 to 1964 the repertory grew apace, with at least twenty productions every season. The company’s steady artistic development was interrupted by the military coup of 21 April 1967 and the National Opera has appertained to Greek National Theaters Union. In 1958 the newly-built Olympia Theatre, situated in Akadimias Street, was inaugurated with Verdi’s Aida. A total of almost thirty operas were presented to the Greek audience for the first time. The Opera was supportive of Greek composers and artists, such as Maria Callas. The famous Greek soprano, internationally renowned for her celestial vocal range, had made her debut at the Herodes Atticus Odeon as well as at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Today, the Greek national opera co-produces operas with some of the world’s leading opera houses.

INFORMATION:

Olympia Munipicial Music Theatre “Maria Callas”

Akadimias 59-61, Athens

Access: Panepistimio METRO Station

Operation: Monday 9.00-16.00

Tuesday to Sunday 9.00-21.00

Tel.: +30 210 3662100

e-mail: info@nationalopera.gr

Greek National Opera

Address

364 Syggrou Avenue, Kallithea, 176 74

Greek National Opera Box Office

+30 213 088 5700

STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER

The New Greek National Opera - Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Presentations of opera are given in the Olympia Munipicial Music Theatre “Maria Callas”, which includes the Children’s Stage, the Athens Concert Hall and the famous Odeon of Herodes Atticus, known as "Herodeion". The Greek National Opera building includes also Athens Opera Studio and the Greek National Opera School of Dance, as well as educational programs, that are addressed at all age groups. The repertory of Greece's Opera covers four centuries of lyric theater, from the work of Claudio Monteverdi to modern Greek authors. 

STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION

Stavros Niarchos Foundation is one of the important international philanthropic organizations in Greece. In June of 2015, the Foundation announced a new grant initiative, that included the construction and complete outfitting of the new facilities of the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera, and the creation of the 210.000m² Stavros Niarchos Park. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre sits in Faliro Delta coastal area. The New National Greek Opera will be situated in a modern architecture building, a total extent of 28.000 m2, designed by architect Renzo Piano. Its stages accommodate opera productions, musicals, concerts, theater performances, ballets, and multimedia art programs. Its high-class acoustics, mechanical capabilities, flexible staging, technological potentials, provide a variety of incredible artistic moments and exceptional productions.

In a well-designed and inventive, multifunctional, and aesthetically outstanding building and an upgraded environment, the New National Greek Opera will be the new Athens music and cultural spot. The new opera will hold 1,400-seats in the main auditorium, the backstage dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces, the lectures, seminars, and other events. The children’s stage for younger audiences and a smaller experimental theater with a capacity of 400 people will host more intimate productions, and also the school of dance. The Greek opera will also collaborate with Neuköllner Opera of Berlin, including musical theatre productions, opera, and operettas. 

In Stavros Niarchos foundation cultural center, will be placed the National Library of Greece, with holdings that include over 4,500 manuscript codices from the 9th to the 19th century and a rich variety of important historical documents and archives. The giant complex will have the Stavros Niarchos Park, a vital green space, that will offer many surprises to its visitors. A wonderful idea takes place and offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the structure and familiarize themselves with the vision and mission of the Cultural center.

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Tel: (+30) 216 8091000

e-mail: info@snfcc.org

By Evelina Nodara. All Copyrights to www.athens24.com 2015