Monday, October 14, 2024 | Odeon of Herodes Atticus
A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON MIKIS THEODORAKIS' WORK THAT MOVED ATHENS
Highlights from the sold-out performance of Melodia 99.2's Tape for Mikis Theodorakis, featuring Natassa Bofiliou at the Odeon.
On that Monday, the packed Odeon of Herodes Atticus witnessed a breathtaking and entirely new perspective on the work of Mikis Theodorakis. The performance unfolded seamlessly, more like a theatrical production than a typical concert.
Melodia 99.2's Tape for Mikis Theodorakis was transformed into an astonishing new narrative of the great composer’s music and legacy. The ingenious orchestrations by Themis Karamouratidis made us feel Mikis’ grandeur anew, blending Mediterranean sounds that unite us: Corsica, Spain, the Balkans.
Natassa Bofiliou and the ensemble of young musicians guided us through Mikis’ body of work, revisiting his emblematic songs that have left an indelible mark on our collective memory: his lyrical compositions, his profound folk songs, and, of course, those deeply intertwined with the political history of Greece.
Bofiliou’s performances were captivating. From the refreshing girl of Myrtia, she transformed into a small child at her father’s feet—Nikos Bofiliou also participated in one of the show’s most intense moments—and then into the tragic mother, wife, and sister as she sang The Kaisariani Blockade, The Slaughterhouse, and May Day.
The directorial and scenographic work of Angelos Triantafyllou provided the necessary theatrical breath to this original endeavor. The inventive rotating set by Konstantinos Lampridis symbolically transported us to deeply Greek and historical moments captured in the great composer’s songs, as curated by Christos Kortsellis.
This much-discussed performance was Natassa Bofiliou’s first personal artistic statement at the Odeon, and Melodia 99.2 thanks her profoundly.
We also thank the outstanding cast of performers who brought this dreamlike production to life: Maria Diakopanagiotou, who moved us as Lorca’s Forsaken Woman, Myrto Vasileiou for the freshness she brought to Beautiful City, Ilias Vamvakousis, Vasilis Prodromou, Michalis Atsalis, Matthaios Boubaris, and Giannis Dafnos for setting up a genuine folk stage to host Mikis’ existential folk songs.
It is no coincidence that all of artistic Athens is still talking about the resonance of this particular performance.
Natassa Bofiliou led us into a renewed homage to Mikis, the poet of set-to-music poetry, sensitivity, and social struggles.
She herself wrote about the performance:
"On the 14th of October, I returned after a long and exhausting journey to my childhood home.
In the dead of night, I searched my bag for the key to open the door.
I couldn’t find it anywhere.
I searched frantically until I remembered.
Father always left a spare key under the basil pot.
I lifted the pot, found the spare key, and went inside.
And what did I see!
The house had turned into a blooming garden.
Truly."
Natassa
Melodia 99.2's Tape for Mikis Theodorakis
"Amidst the Blooming Gardens"
Monday, October 14, 2024
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Performance: Natassa Bofiliou
Orchestral Concept/Arrangements: Themis Karamouratidis
Cast of Performers:
Maria Diakopanagiotou
Ilias Vamvakousis
Myrto Vasileiou
Vasilis Prodromou
Michalis Atsalis
Matthaios Boubaris
Giannis Dafnos
Special Participation: Nikos Bofiliou
Direction and Scenography: Angelos Triantafyllou
Set Design: Konstantinos Lampridis
Lighting Design: Pericles Mathiellis
Choreography: Cécile Mikroutsikou
Costume Design: Sasa Charara, Natassa Bofiliou
Texts: Thymios Kalamoukis
Repertoire Curation: Christos Kortsellis
Sound Design/Engineering: Yiannis Paxevanis
Stage Sound Engineer: Antonis Zachopoulos
Musicians:
Manolis Giannikios – drums
George Boulntis – double bass
George Kastanos – saxophone/clarinet
Evangelos Hamritsak – trombone
Konstantinos Sapounis – trumpet
Scores: Aris Zervas
Poster Design: Emilia Michailidou
Concept / Artistic Direction: Natassa Bofiliou
Special thanks to Rena Parmenidou for her contribution.
Our heartfelt thanks to Polyplanity Productions and Yolanda Markopoulou for their crucial support in creating our set by providing the rotating stage.
PRODUCTION: FRONTSTAGE ENTERTAINMENT - PROSPERO
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
- (c) Afroditi Zaggana - Melodia 99.2’s Tape for Mikis Theodorakis_14_10_2024
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