The 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney will celebrate Miki Theodorakis and Nobel winning poet Odysseas Elytis in a concert entitled Axion Esti on Saturday 11 May 2024, 8pm at the City Recital Hall, in Sydney, Australia.
Greek vocalist Dimitris Basis, renowned Greek Australian conductor George Ellis, chanter George Karantonis a 30-piece Choir, and narration by Greek Australian actor Tony Nikolakopoulos are all part of this much anticipate showcase of Greek culture at its finest.
Odysseas Elytis' (1911- 1996) landmark work, Axion Esti (1959) was set to music by Mikis Theodorakis and became a widely-celebrated anthem. Combining suffering and passion, spiritual lessons and poetic power, Axion Esti - widely held to be Elytis’ masterpiece - won the National Book Award for Poetry in 1960.
Mikis Theodorakis – composer of the legendary Zorba’s Dance – is Greece’s most celebrated composer. He has written more than 1,000 songs and song-cycles whose melodies have become intrinsically linked with the heritage of Greek music. This unique event honours his legacy and celebrates the sheer musical beauty and timelessness of his masterwork compositions.
As part of the Axion Esti concert, Theodorakis’ most famous melodies including Ena To Helidoni (A Solitary Swallow) and Tis Dikeosinis Ilie (Sun of Justice) will be performed as an Australian premiere in a special collaboration between Sydney based 30-piece Choir, a symphony orchestra and an array of musicians performing on traditional Greek instruments.
Don’t miss this magnificent concert as part of the 42nd Greek Festival of Sydney 2024, celebrating the enduring presence of Greek culture in Australia.
Vocalist Dimitris Basis
Director and Conductor George Ellis
Chanter George Karantonis
Narrator Tony Nikolakopoulos
Choir 30-piece choir
Event Details:
WHAT: Axion Esti (‘It is Worthy’)
Presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the City Recital Hall
WHEN: Thursday 11 May 2024, 8pm
WHERE: City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
BOOKINGS: 02 8256 2222, cityrecitalhall.com
