Summer event tightens belt but promises a host of treats

info: kathimerini

Coming at a time when the country is desperate for any form of good news, the recent presentation of this year’s Greek Festival offered some much-needed hope, both in terms of the figures presented as well as the program of upcoming events.

It is quite an accomplishment for a cultural organization such as the Greek Festival to have eliminated a deficit of 7.8 million euros since Giorgos Loukos took over as director in 2006. Equally impressive is the fact that last year’s 170,000 spectators contributed to its balance sheet by 411,000 euros. As for this year’s budget, it follows in the footsteps of other Greek cultural institutions: Set at 5 million euros back in 2009, it slipped to 4 million euros in 2010 and has now gone down to 3.2 million euros.
Despite the reduced budget, the program maintains its international character with a number of leading names from the worlds of theater and music set to appear in Greece this summer. Among them are Romeo Castellucci, who will be presenting his new production, “On the Concept of the Face, Regarding the Son of God” (June 22-25) and Krzysztof Warlikowski, who will present his “(A)pollonia” at the Onassis Cultural Center (June 28 - July 1).
Ariane Mnouchkine will present her new production, “Les Naufrages du fol espoir,” which is a collaboration with the Theatre du Soleil (June 10-12 & June 15-19), while Russia’s Kolyada Theater and its founder Nikolai Kolyada will present “Hamlet” (July 7-9). Lebanese-Canadian Wajdi Mouawad is scheduled to stage “Women,” a production inspired by Sophocles’ “The Trachiniae,” “Antigone” and “Electra.” Bob Wilson is also expected to participate in the festival, presenting Frank Wedekind’s “Lulu” in collaboration with the Berliner Ensemble (venue and dates to be announced).
In the festival’s Greek department, the emphasis is on the rising force of local theater, via a series of monologues. “Monologues cost less than dialogues,” Loukos pointed out half-jokingly at the recent presentation. “Never before have so many young artists and newcomers participated in the festival,” said Pavlos Geroulanos, minister of culture and tourism, also present at the event. “Investing in the new generation is the festival’s most important contribution this year.”
The logic behind this year’s event is evident: Without limiting the festival’s international character, emphasis has been put on young Greek artists who cost less than the big names. Given the current economic climate, it seems like an intelligent choice with a long-term scope.
As far as music events are concerned, highlights include tributes to Iannis Xenakis (at the Pireos 260 venue), Odysseas Elytis and Gustav Mahler (at the Herod Atticus Theater on June 26 and July 15 respectively). Furthermore, Theofrastos Sakellaridis’s operetta “The Daughter of the Storm” will be staged for the first time since 1923.
Six productions are heading to the Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, with performances taking place Fridays to Sundays from July 1 to August 6. These include Petros Filippidis directing Aristophanes’ ”Peace,” “Skinovates,” directed by Stamatis Fasoulis and produced by the Greek National Theater, “Medea,” an Aplo Theater production starring Amalia Moutousi and Christos Loulis, “Richard III,” a Bridge Project production directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey, and Euripides’ “Hercules Furens” directed by Michail Marmarinos.
The Little Theater of Epidaurus will only be hosting music events this year, with a program featuring appearances by Nikos Portokaloglou, Monika, Dimitra Galani and Vassilikos, complemented by a tribute to lyricist Nikos Gatsos.
The Greek Festival also includes a variety of visual arts events around Athens. These include a slipper-shaped ship docking in the port of Piraeus (a DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art production) and installations at the Pireos 260 venue. Meanwhile, “The Last Grand Tour,” a large-scale exhibition showcasing Greek-inspired works by noted foreign artists, is already on display at the Museum of Cycladic Art.
Athens Festival Box Office, 39 Panepistimiou, tel 210.327.2000. Tickets go on sale on May 9. For more information, visit www.greekfestival.gr.

info: By Olga Sella  kathimerini

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