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"The Magic Violin": Opera for children too

The children's opera of Nikos Xanthoulis "The Magic Violin", comes to the National Opera to enchant young and old alike8 January 2012.
A musical fairy tale about the power of music and true love that will impress children's souls. A comparative story that brings the message of optimism and joy, even in the most difficult conditions.
Composer Nikos Xanthoulis wrote music with the aim of appealing to all ages and especially to "young ears", while Marivita Grammatikaki inspired the libretto, from a personal experience: A gray day with dark thoughts of bankruptcy, crisis, loss a busker passed in front of her playing the violin. This was the reason for writing this work.
The director of the show Lena Georgiadou notes: "This is a 'fairytale' story", structured with the characteristics of a tragedy, where everyone, "good" and "bad" do not obey traditional conventions, where the past and the future, logic and imagination, they cease to be treated as contradictory, and all together act as a poetic depiction of a world so old, as well as today's.
The story

Once, in a gray state,  there lived a king who hated beauty, colors and songs and forbade all citizens to sing and rejoice. He even imprisoned his daughter for singing one day when she was enchanted by a gypsy's violin, who accidentally entered the state. The king was frightened as soon as he heard the song and ordered to imprison all those who sang along with the gypsy, as well as to throw away his violin. Only one madman stayed out of prison and hid the violin.

The king now lives alone, companionship with the madman of the state. Hearing the violin awakens memories that fill him with sadness. It wasn't always like that. The death of his beloved queen filled him with pain. For the first time he reveals that he is afraid of pain. He believes that he who is not happy is not sad, therefore it does not hurt.
But the words of the madman and the music of the magic violin, the queen's gift to the gypsy, they awakened the goodness he had buried within him. The Apparition of the Queen and the Magical Tunes of the Violin, solve the magic. That's how everything changed.

Note by composer Nikos Xanthoulis
I loved Asterix since I was little. At first I was fascinated by the images, later the stories and when I was older I was crazy about his humor. When I found that a work of art can speak to both children and adults, I was captivated by the idea that I could do something like that with music. But the problem is always the text. "Give me a good libretto and I will find the music" said Verdi.

The opportunity came with the libretto competition for a musical fairy tale that we co-organized in the Educational Programs of the National Opera together with the National Book Center in November 2010. My good friend Marivita Grammatikaki made with a few sentences a draft of a fairy tale entitled The Magic Violin on which young students from all over Greece would compete in writing a libretto. The competition was held and the first prize was won by a student from Thessaloniki, Raphael Ketsetsidis. Joseph Vallet composed the work that was presented with great success at the 2nd Student Opera Festival, which was organized some months later.

Some time later, the European Organization OPERA EUROPA organized the European Opera Days in cooperation with most of the opera theaters of Europe [European Opera Days] at 7 and 8 of May 2011 titled "Young Ears" [Young Ears]. The translation of the theme was not accidental. People of any age who are open to new hearings have "young ears".. The National Opera House asked me to compose a work for all ages, a project that can be approached by an adult, but also a young viewer. I chose the Magic Violin without a second thought. I got lucky with Marivita Grammatikaki's libretto. We worked with great joy with all partners and with the people of the National Opera to be by our side in all difficulties. But the most beautiful thing... is to see the children's smiles after the show.

Composition and music direction Nikos Xanthoulis
Author – Lyricist Marivita Grammatikakis
Directed by Lena Georgiadou
Sets – Costumes Chrysanthi Psaropoulos
Lighting by Ioannis Pantelias
Choreography – Kinesiology Themistocles Pavlis
Direction of children's choir Rozi Mastrosavva
Horace (King) Alexandros Stavrakakis – George Roupas
Procas (Sneak) Pavlos Maropoulos – Zafeiris Koutelieris
Ed (Crazy) Panagiotis Athanasopoulos – Kostis Rasidakis
Rosa (Princess) Artemis Bogri – Gina Foteinopoulou
Amir (Romany) Nikos Stefanou – Thanasis Evangelou
Evita Hassapoglou dances
Members of the Children's Stage Orchestra of E.L.S. and the ROSARTE children's choir
 Source : culturenow.gr
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The Walkabouts in Athens and Thessaloniki

At 27 and 28 January
One of the favorite bands of the Greek audience The Walkabouts return to Greece and appear on Friday 27 and on Saturday 28 January to Gaia Live, in Thessaloniki and in the cell live, in Athens, respectively.
Unique, sensual, Dark and cinematic The Walkabouts are approaching thirty years, Seven years after Acetylene. Moreover, his release also stood for a new meeting of The Walkabouts with the Greek public.
The epic dark mood of the songs of the new album is rich in "American" shades and drags us into an imposing road trip to "dusty earth". A land where hopes and dreams slide back back to the wild. Dustland's lyricism brings us images of the imposing landscapes of the American South and the endless avenues leading to Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
Carla Torgerson and Chris Eckman are the culprits of the band's creation 1984 And they are probably the only band from Seattle who did not follow the grunge movement although it signed to Sub Pop. The band was named after Nickolas Roeg's film based on James Vance Marshall's novel, on an exhausting two -brothers' trek to Australia's wild deserts, where they are looking for food and redemption and have as a guide to a Amporizinal native.
While the band took its final form with the addition of Chris Eckman, of Terri Moeller in drums and Michael Wells on bass. The 2010 It was also the addition of guitarist Paul Austin who will accompany them on this tour.
Source : elculture.gr
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"Bel Ami" "Dangerous Passion": A different Pattinson

Two relatively inexperienced directors, Declan Donnellan και Nick Ormerod, they took over the film “Dangerous passion”. But what stands out is the opposite role that the talented actor will play, Robert Pattinson. If his name doesn't tell you anything, then you will definitely remember him from The Twilight movies and so on., where she played a sexy vampire.
Pattinson plays George Duroy, a young man who works his way up the social ladder essentially by seducing high society ladies. The play is based on the book of the same name by Guy De Maupassant and is due to be released in the Spring of 2012.
 The cast is completed by Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman καιKristin Scott Thomas.
watch the trailerhere
Source : protothema.gr
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To "HOUSE OF FEAR" came to Greece!

The real actors in the most realistic horror house will shock the visitors
The most subversive horror game in the world, «The House of Fear», comes to Greece and promises the most terrible holidays we have ever experienced. We can try this interactive game exclusively at Allou! Fun Park.
Key components of the game are fear, the upheavals and the absolute darkness. A realistic horror house, with real actors will shock prospective visitors and take them to a scary dimension.
The scariest heroes come to life in front of the surprised visitor while the actors play to the limits of fear, taking your breath away!
 The backdrop of «The House of Fear» στο Allou! Fun Park, complemented by ten rooms with different scary themes, special lighting and fascinating sound effects!


 This year's Christmas, fun is guaranteed at Allou! Fun Park for visitors of all ages. Our little friends, will have the opportunity to star in a magical theatrical performance at Kidom.
This is a unique interactive theatrical play with stories inspired by the twelve days of Christmas and New Year. With the help of experienced theater educators – animators, children will become protagonists and will experience incredible moments of joy and knowledge in the space of Kidom.
End, young and old will have the opportunity to skate at Allou! Fun Park, as well as the favorite Christmas habit, ice skating, found its ideal place in a large covered ice rink ideal for all weather conditions!

source : newsbeast.gr
Uncategorized, Theater

The Circus of Vietnam for young and old

A show for the holidays from a circus with tradition and a special national signature: the New Vietnam Circus invites you on a magical journey to the Far East, at 23 and 25-29 December 2011 on the Central Stage of the House of Letters & Arts.

New Circus from Hanoi offers us a different poetic journey to the distant land of the East. This group of young artists that comes from the circus grounds, of music, of theater and street art will remind us of images and sensations from the everyday life of a peaceful village lost in the rice fields.

With simple means and original scenery made of bamboo, Làng Tôi draws inspiration from the rich Vietnamese tradition but also from the new techniques of circus art, offering young and old alike a unique stage experience that defies the laws of gravity. The audience will not only come into contact with a completely different kind of wandering and circus but will be able to discover the high quality expression of the physical technique of the Eastern theater.

Importantly, Vietnamese artists who lived and worked in France and Germany returned to their artistic roots, enhancing the tradition with new techniques and forms, offering a spectacle that combines masterful acrobatics, martial arts, traditional Vietnamese music, pantomime and dance. For young and old, a sight that we rarely have the opportunity to enjoy in the heart of Athens.

New Circus of Vietnam
Lang Toi – "My Village"

House of Letters and Arts
Syngrou Avenue 107-109
At 20.30
Tel.: 210 9005800


Source : protothema.gr
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"Amen Amen": A musical performance by Stavros Xarhakos

TheState Theater of Northern GreeceandAcropolis Theatrepresent the production “Amen Amen“, a musical performance based on rebetiko song, directed by himStavros Xarchakos.
The premiere will be given onFriday 30 December 2011in theRoyal TheatreinThessalonica.
The rebetika songs of the vision for a better life, the rebetikas of denying dreams, the rebetikas of the eternal nostalgia of beauty, the rebetikas of the sanctity of desire, the rebetikas of defiance of terror, the rebetika songs of challenging fate and restless struggle with death.
The “aman” that comes out of the soul meets the “Amen” a prayer. In the straight line that unites the Byzantine organ with the rebetiko and with the Little Asian song, love travels, the passion, the lust, the nostalgia, the fate, the death, dreams for a better life, deprivation of liberty and refugee status. This is how Stavros Xarchakos listened to these sounds of the past and staged a musical performance entitled “Amen Amen”. A spectacle-listening with old and new compositions, a folk stage as overwhelming as a liturgy.
Each of the two parts is divided into three sections. There are songs of grace, of Teke and the East.
COEFFICIENTS
 
Direction: Stavros Xarchakos
Sets-costumes: Ersi Drini
Paintings: GeorgeStathopoulos
Lighting: Grigoris Karatinakis
Audio Direction: Nikolaos Routos
Production Department: Fanis Kirkinezos
Production Supervisor – Assistant Director: Pandora Xarhakou
They interpret: Zacharias Karounis– Elita Kounadis– Costas Mantzopoulos– Nana Binopoulou–Kate Dali– Maria Sultatou–Kostas Tsigos.
The musicians are playing:
Vamvakousis Aristos(Bouzouki), Vastor Achilles(Piano), Drogaris Vassilis(Accordion), Zakkas Iraklis(Bouzouki, Baglamas, Good), Cavalieratos Stavros(Contrabass), Margonis Sotiris(Violin), George Pehlivanoglou(Classical Guitar), George Nidriotis(Bouzouki, Jura, Baglama),Pappos Manolis(Bouzouki), Sambaziotis Nikos(Acoustic Guitar), Sideridis Diamantis, (Bouzouki, Jura, Baglama, Chubs), Khalil Evgenios(Bouzouki, Jura, Baglama).
For 20 only performances inThessalonica. Subsequently, they will follow 20 performances at the Acropolis Theatre, in Athens.
 Source : culturenow.gr