AT THE «TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS» IN ATHENS WILL BE HELD THE OPERA «PROMETHEUS BOUND» BY PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

TEMPLE OF OLYMPIAN ZEUS

 PANAGIOTIS KAROUSOS

PROMETHEUS BOUND

 Starring:

Prometheus: Vasileios Asimakopoulos, bass

Io/Goddess Athena: Irene Konsta, soprano

Ocean/Hermes: Anastasios Stellas, tenor

Via/Oceanide: Maria Lyberakou, soprano

Goddess Hera: Vanessa Kalkanis, soprano

Rania Zetta, viola - Vivi Kleisoura, piano

Directed by Vasileios Asimakopoulos

Production by Hellenic American Center of the Arts

PROMETHEUS BOUND AT THE OLYMPIEION

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2014

Columns of the Olympian Zeus

(Vassilisis Olgas Av., Athens) Time: 8:30pm

European Heritage days in Greece 2014

«The Faces of Time»

Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Few words about the opera “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos

Vasileios Asimakopoulos, Irene Konsta

Based on Aeschylus tragedy “Prometheus Bound” by Panagiotis Karousos first premiered in Montreal, Canada in 1994 and played in French until 2000.  In 1998 the work presented in Los Angeles at Beverly Hills City Hall with a great success. In 2008 represented in New York and Washington in English under the direction of maestro Grant Gilman, and American soloists from the opera of New York. The opera impressed with the high lyricism and characterized as a divine music composition work. In Greece Prometheus Bound presented at the Municipal Theatres of Athens, Salamina, Argostoli, Lixouri, Ithaca, Cholargos, Chalkis, at the Concert Hall of the Greek Writers, in “Parnassos” Concert Hall, in the Old Parliament House, at the Theatre Veakeio, and the Theatre “Jenny Karezi”. In 2013 bass Vasileios Asimakopoulos did unforgettable presentations of the opera as a director and leading role at the Little Theatre of Ancient Epidaurus, the Ancient Theatre Ekklesiasterion (Odeon) in Ancient Messene, the Ancient Agora at the Ancient Site of Acropolis, and the National Archeological Museum of Greece, and performed the main arias of the opera at “Parnassos” Concert Hall conducted by E. Kalkanis.

Panagiotis Karousos is a renowned Greek-Canadian composer who brings to his music the philosophy and spiritualism of the Greek classics. He successfully presented all his operas (Prometheus, Olympic Flame, Alexander the Great, Light of Christianity) around major North American cities. His Symphony No.1 “Liberty” presented in New York with the Astoria Symphony and maestro Silas Nathaniel Huff. His Piano Concerto No.1 performed in Montreal Canada under the auspices of UNESCO in 2000. Also his Symphony No.2 “Olympic” performed in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal with the OSJL-L Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andre Gauthier. Recently the Symphony Orchestra of the City of Athens conducted by E. Kalkanis premiered his Symphony No.4 “Earth” (February 2014).

The Temple of Olympian Zeus also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus, is a colossal ruined temple in the centre of the Greek capital Athens that was dedicated to Zeus, king of the Olympian gods. Construction began in the 6th century BC during the rule of the Atheniantyrants, who envisaged building the greatest temple in the ancient world, but it was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD some 638 years after the project had begun. During the Roman periods it was renowned as the largest temple in Greece and housed one of the largest cult statues in the ancient world.

European Heritage Days. Council of Europe, European Union. Every year in September, the 50 signatory States to the European Cultural Convention take part in the European Heritage Days – a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, putting new cultural assets on view and opening up historical buildings normally closed to the public. The cultural events highlight local skills and traditions, architecture and works of art, but the broader aim is to bring citizens together in harmony even though there are differences in cultures and languages.

Each year, national and regional events are organised around a special theme. These themes vary in each country from year to year. They include such topics as:

- specific forms of heritage (e.g. farmhouses, musical instruments, culinary traditions, garden architecture);

- specific periods in history (e.g. the Medieval heritage, the Baroque heritage);

- society's approaches to heritage (e.g. heritage and citizenship, heritage and youth).

The Council of Europe and the European Commission encourage the selection of trans-national themes which can be illustrated by cross-border activities that are jointly set up by the different countries.

Since 1999, the European Heritage Days have a permanent slogan: "Europe, a common heritage".

The joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission, in close cooperation with the group of national coordinators ensures the success of the European Heritage Days.