The life of the "legendary form" of the song and its era are revived in the musical theater performance directed by Sofia Spyratou
Akis Sakellariou and Alexandros Bourdoumis play Atticus in the show which premieres on 22 February
I cried to write, I wrote to sing and sang to live… was writing the handwritten note that Atticus had left with the wish to be written on his tomb. In one of the leading forms of Greek song, Cleon Triantafillou, the worldly Atticus, the musical theater performance is mentioned, "Looking for Atticus" which premieres on 22 February, in Badminton, in musicological research and texts by Lambros Liavas, directed and choreographed by Sofia Spyratou.
"The show invites today's audience to rebaptize in the beauty of the songs that marked the lives of millions of Greeks and to discover the values of life and the artistic courage of an era as difficult and transitory as today" notes Lambros Liavas.
Atticus is rightly considered the father of all modern Greek troubadours. His proposal has not been surpassed even by his spiritual grandchildren, Manos Hadjidakis and Dionysis Savvopoulos. Even if they were rushed for a time, some small-minded people, to stick the label of retro" he says. It has been a "legendary form" which expresses "erotism and emotion that is eternal… Cosmopolitan and deeply cultured, great composer and pianist, singer, poet, rhymester, actor, lecturer, magician, dancer and acrobat (!), was a multifaceted and charming personality".
A throwback without a "retro" mood, but with a lot of humor, sarcasm, tenderness and emotion is the production. At the heart of it is a hearty selection of the most beloved songs of Atticus and other leading composers of the time. The show follows the "life saga" of Cleon Triantaphyllos-Atticus (1885-1944) and his generation. It starts from Alexandria and his Athens 1900, with the walks in Zappeion, the carols and musical evenings at the mansion of the Triantaphyllos family. It takes place in Belle Epoque Paris, with the famous Mistenge measuring at the Folies Berge and the young Cleon at the Conservatory, musical theaters and cabarets to begin his career as "Attic" – songwriter.
We follow him on his adventurous tours’ the whole world.
To end up in the Athens of the Interwar period, with "variety shows" and the famous "Mantra", a pioneering way of artistic communication for the Greek reality. "Mantra" was Attic's temple of art and functioned for a whole decade (1930-1940), combining elements from the Parisian boudoir, the Athenian inspection, it's boring, the tavern and the music-philology gallery. It was a nursery of great artists. A recounting of the events of that period takes place alongside the performance.
The performance will make use of the theatre's potential, as explained by S. Spyratou. For’ this stage will reach the square with steps, as it was in "Mantra". The artists will come closer to the audience and become a company with it.
TALENT COMPETITIONS
One of the characteristics of the "Madras of Attic" was the various talent competitions, something that the show, following the legend of Atticus, will make it come true. Spectators who have signed up and auditioned will compete in various talent shows with an emphasis on singing talent, just as it was done in the mantra of Atticus. More information for those interested in participating in the competitions at tel.: 211 10 10000. Registrations to attik@badmintontheater.gr.
THE ACTORS The lyrical interludes are signed by Yiannis Xanthoulis and the sets – costumes by Lili Pezanou. They star (in alphabetical order): S. Sieves, N. Lotsar, Ev. Mourning, Al. Bourdoumis, English. Papadimitriou, Ak. Sakellariou et al., 10ballet members and a 7-member orchestra, under the orchestration – musical direction by Theodoros Kotepanos.
Source : ethnos.gr
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