Athens to Host "Oscar Night" Concert Celebrating Academy Award-Winning Music

The Municipality of Athens, under the auspices of the Australian Embassy, will launch its concert season with a dazzling event titled “And the Oscar Goes To…” on Sunday, November 3.

The Big Band of the Municipality of Athens will perform at the Olympia Municipal Music Theatre "Maria Callas," delivering a magical evening celebrating music from Academy Award-winning films.

The concert will feature a tribute to iconic songs and film scores that have been honoured at the Oscars throughout the years. Arranged and conducted by Thessaloniki composer and jazz pianist Nikolas Anadolis, the performance will showcase renowned singer Dioni as the evening's soloist. The Big Band will join forces with the Symphony Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens under the musical direction of Nikolas Anadolis and Sami Amiris to present a captivating program that includes some of the most famous tracks from Oscar-winning films.

Concert highlights include timeless classics such as "Lullaby of Broadway" from The Gold Diggers, "Over the Rainbow," "Swinging on a Star," and "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Attendees can also look forward to modern favourites like "Let It Go" from Frozen and "City of Stars" from La La Land, alongside other memorable pieces such as "Chariots of Fire," "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic, and "Skyfall."

Special guests for the evening include Alexandros Affolter and Makis Tsigantes, with video art by Pantelis Makkas.

Dioni, who devised the concept and will take the stage as the performer, boasts a diverse and impressive musical background, having studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music before moving to Greece, where she has collaborated with renowned artists across genres, including composer and saxophonist George Katsaros.

She has performed in ancient theatres and stadiums, supporting major acts such British groups “Faithless,” “Soft Cell,” and “The Chemical Brothers.” Dioni has also worked with various European electronic artists, showcasing her versatility as a vocalist on international stages in Australia, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Qatar.

Her first solo album, released in Montreal and Athens in 2015, received rave reviews and continues to receive airplay on both international and Greek radio stations. Dioni's multimedia musical, “Ode to a Crisis,” sold out at The Factory Theatre in Sydney in June 2014, and her tribute show "Divas" was a hit in Sydney and Canberra in 2016.

This concert promises to be a spectacular celebration of cinematic music, uniting cultures through the universal language of song. Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable evening at the heart of Athens.