A long list of selected educational programmes for both children and adults will tour throughout Greece as part of the recent two-year grant of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to enhance the GNO’s artistic outreach in Greece and abroad. These include the music and storytelling series of performances titled Narrations, the playful dance workshop Dad… Shall we dance?, and the interactive educational programme Pocket Opera & Ballet, which will run for at least 15 performances across Greece this season. At the same time, more than 600 online educational seminars will be held to train educators on effectively using OperaBox.

Outreach projects also include music, body percussion, dance and movement workshops in Penitentiaries throughout Greece, which are implemented with the support of the Ioannis S. Latsi.

 

Donor of the Educational Programme in Penitentiaries

JSL PBF EN

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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The musical Silence, the King Is Listening by Nikos Kypourgos, one of the most popular pieces of the modern Greek music theatre repertoire, inspires a new experiential artistic programme for Primary Education schools across Greece. The program is designed for Fourth—and Fifth-Grade students. It is a fascinating interactive game that utilizes educational drama, a form of theatrical art based on improvisation via experiential learning.

Through theatrical and musical activities, which include musical and theatrical improvisation, composition, familiarization with musical terms, and creative engagement with various musical genres, participants will have the opportunity to discover themselves by cultivating precious skills such as empathy, imagination, flexibility, self-awareness, concentration, communication, and interaction. At the same time, they will also have the chance to understand the world of music through direct experience.

During the first implementation cycle, the educational programme visited 17 schools in Komotini, Alexandroupoli, Samothraki, Limnos, Nea Karvali, Kavala, Lesvos, and Chios.

Information about the upcoming second implementation cycle will be announced soon.

 

Funding for this programme is provided by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, as part of the Project “Sub.1.44 Greek National Opera in the Region: educational actions & consulting support”. This Project is financed through credits from the Public Investment Programme as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which is financially supported by the European Commission under the NextGenerationEU initiative.

TAMEIO ANAKAMPSIS YPPO 2

 

Lead Donor of the GNO Learning and Participation

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The beloved dance workshop Dad… Shall we dance?, supported by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), will visit two cities in Greece, starting from Nafplio. The programme invites fathers with children aged between 4 and 8 to a highly entertaining dance performance, full of tenderness and ballet figures. By participating in a classical dance and playful dancing class, fathers, along with their children, will have the chance to explore their skills and strengthen their bond through movement activities, improvisation, and games. But, most importantly, they will have fun by dancing against stereotypes!

Additional cities and dates will be announced soon.

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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Narrations by I Katsikes Xeroun Ton Dromo company (Elli Giannaki, Elsa Kuding, Dimitris Kourtis) will take children, teenagers, and adults on a journey across the magical world of fairy tales through stories from all over the world. The project will be held during the 2024/45 season in Athens and two other cities in Greece, with the support of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).

Narrations consists of three different music and storytelling performances with a live music accompaniment aimed at audiences of all ages, including children, teenagers, and adults. The programme promises to sweep us away on a delightful adventure full of amazing and imaginary happenings, lots of magic, goblins, Norwegian countryside trolls, queens, fairies, and weird occurrences. The performances are accompanied by traditional songs and melodies from many different parts of the world. They draw inspiration from the unique characteristics and symbolisms of fall, Christmas, and Carnival, borrowing stories from old storytellers to offer us plenty of laughter and valuable popular wisdom teachings.

 

The Tales of the Rainy Month

Join us to listen to tales about rain and winds. Legends about tree and flower spirits. Through our stories, the elements and spirits of nature will be revealed to you in all their glory. We will climb on enchanted trees, run among the fallen leaves, and find warmth in houses that appear to be small…. But sometimes appearances can be deceiving! Especially when Nasreddin Hodja arrives riding his donkey backward, always giving the best advice.

A while before the end of “Vrocharis” – the month known for abundant rainfall – or, in other words, “Niastis”, which means the time when people plow the land for the last time, we will listen to autumn tales that will stir up the fertile ground of our imagination and sow it with new seeds. These tales will give us directions from ancient wisdom on how to live kindly and with gratitude, using the land without destroying its vitality. They will teach us how to navigate the natural world when the wind rages, how to fearlessly move through the realm of senses and instinct when it rains, and how to safely wander across the collective unconscious when the cold is unbearable.

Storyteller: Elli Giannaki

Musical accompaniment: Nikos Karydis, Dimitris Kourtis

 Running time: 50 minutes

 

FOUGARO ARTCENTER – NAFPLIO

Performance date: 23 November 2024

Starts at: 12.00

Free admission

Reservations for seats are necessary; you can contact us by phone at 27520 47370 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

GREEK NATIONAL OPERA – STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER

Performance date: 30 November 2024

Starts at: 10.30 & 11.30

VIP Lounge of the Greek National OperaStavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Ticket price: 5€ / per person

Tickets on sale from 14 October 2024: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Warm Stories about Winter and Christmas

Children and grown-ups, come with us on a journey of stories and music! Three folk tales and one contemporary story will transport us to distant lands where the snow is soft and the cold is piercing. But fear not, as the stories will warm up your soul! On our journey, we will encounter goblins, frozen rivers, and the old woman Befana from Italy, who gives children presents. Seven mothers and six daughters will host us somewhere in Norway, and when we reach Scotland, we will help a queen get rid of the cold that has engulfed her heart and entire kingdom.

A select programme for the whole family featuring stories that will inspire laughter, reflection, and warmth in our hearts! In harmony with the Christmas spirit, we will all gather to listen to three folk tales and one contemporary story, accompanied by musical instruments such as the violoncello, accordion, oud, and Constantinopolitan lyre. The musical pieces we will hear are adapted songs from the traditions of the countries where the fairy tales come from. Through these stories, we will see images from magical lands with the eyes of our imagination. We will learn how important it is to be able to forgive and help each other, seize the opportunities that arise in front of us, be able to view things from many different standpoints, and not forget to seek advice from the older generations.

Storyteller: Elli Giannaki

Musical accompaniment: Nikos Karydis, Dimitris Kourtis

Music and storytelling performance for the whole family

Running time: 50 minutes

 

FOUGARO ARTCENTER – NAFPLIO

Performance date: 14 December 2024

Starts at: 12.00 & 13.30

Free admission

Reservations for seats are necessary; you can contact us by phone at  27520 47370 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

GREEK NATIONAL OPERA – STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION CULTURAL CENTER

Performance date: 21 December 2024

Starts at: 10.30 & 12.00

VIP Lounge of the Greek National OperaStavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Ticket price: 5€ / per person

Tickets on sale from 2 December 2024: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Underneath the Cherry Tree

Come along with us to hear stories about private parts that speak clearly and loudly and talkative behinds that are especially revealing and extroverted! Nature awakens and runs wild, sparking popular imagination. You will encounter knights, peasant men and women in wild situations, with special demands and gifts. Fairies ready to have fun and Norwegian countryside trolls offering accessories inappropriate for minors promise you an evening you will never forget!

Our carnival fairy-tale repertoire includes legends, facetious accounts, and medieval stories, all interspersed with pure, traditional wedding songs! We will hear caustic, wise, deep, comic, and dirty stories that praise fertility and the joy of love with humor. All of them were derived from Greek folklore and the unbridled imagination of European troubadours. This year, during the Carnival season, we will laugh and celebrate without restraint underneath the cherry tree.

Storyteller: Elli Giannaki

Musical accompaniment: Nikos Karydis, Dimitris Kourtis

 

Music and storytelling performance

Running time: 60 minutes

Age group: adults and teenagers aged over 16

Performance date: 16 February 2025

Starts at: 19.30 & 21.00

VIP Lounge of the Greek National OperaStavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center

Ticket price: 5€ /per person

Tickets on sale from 27 January 2025: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor &

GNO Outreach Donor

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The interactive educational programme Pocket Opera & Ballet, which garnered so much love from children, is back for a second year.  

Six of the opera and ballet repertoire works to be presented by the Greek National Opera this year have been adapted to miniature size, inviting preschoolers and primary school children to join them as both performers and audience members. Participants will take part in theatre, music, and dance workshops and will be encouraged to cultivate their creativity and imagination by generating their own artistic ideas, which they will later integrate into the condensed versions of the works. One of the productions from this educational programme will visit two cities in Greece on dates to be announced soon, as part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s (SNF) grant to enhance the GNO’s artistic outreach.

 

Iphigénie en Aulide & Iphigénie en Tauride

Designed & implemented by: Georgios Iatrou (concept, dramaturgy, baritone, performer), Ioanna Piata (concept, dramaturgy, actress, animator), Katerina Konstantourou (musician)

Age group: 8-12 years old

Workshop & interactive performance dates: 2, 3, 9, 10 November 2024

Starts at: Saturdays at 17.00, Sundays at 11.00

Ticket price: €5 / per children

Tickets on sale from 15 October 2024: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Don Quixote

Designed & implemented by: WINGS company (Angeliki Bozou – visual artist, Tatiana Bre – performer, Konstantinos Papathymnios – musician, Dimitra Papastavrou – music educator, Selina Papoutseli – performer)

Age group: 4-7 years oldadult accompaniment required

Workshop and interactive performance dates: 7, 8, 14, 15 December 2024

Starts at: Saturdays στις 17.00, Sundays στις 11.00

Ticket price: €5 / per children

Tickets on sale from 11 November 2024: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Tchaikovsky

Designed & implemented by: Echorroes Team (Phivos-Angelos Kollias – composer, interactive music designer, project coordinator, Christina Stouraiti – applied theatre facilitator, educational project designer, Niki Psychogiou – set designer, Anna Sbokou – light designer)

Age group: 1-3 years old adult accompaniment required

Workshop and interactive performance dates: 15, 16, 22, 23 February 2025

Starts at: Saturdays στις 16.00 & 17.30, Sundays στις 10.00 & 11.30

Ticket price: €5  / per children

Tickets on sale from 27 January 2025: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

 

Travelling with Turandot

Designed & implemented by: Maya Myriam Papageorgiou (animator), Marietta Sarri (soprano), Thodoris Ziarkas (musician)

Age group: 4-6 years

Workshop and interactive performance dates: 15, 16 March 2025

Starts at: Saturday at 17.00, Sunday at 11.00

Ticket price: €5  / per children

Tickets on sale from 28 February 2025: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Lucia di Lammermoor

Designed & implemented by: Mata Katsouli (conductor, soloist, artist director of Opera Stigmis company, Dimitris Tigkas (double bassist, performer, musicologist), Dimitra Papadopoulou (educator, special educator, soloist), Maria Charalambidou (soloist, psychologist)

Age group: 8-12 years old

Workshop and interactive performance dates: 5, 6, 12, 13 April 2025

Starts at: Saturdays στις 17.00, Sundays στις 11.00

Ticket price: €5 / per children

Tickets on sale from 19 March 2025: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

Rigoletto

Designed & implemented by: WEAVE company (Vasilis Tzavaras – music score and onstage performance, Michalis Nivolianitis, Erato Tzavara – video design and onstage performance, Miranda Vatikioti – dramaturgy supervisor, Maria Pavlopoulou – activities consultant for participants aged up to three years old and their companions, Natalia Moschakou – space design, WEAVE – executive producer)

Age group: 1-3 years old adult accompaniment required

Workshop and interactive performance dates: 9, 10, 16, 17 May 2025

Starts at: Saturdays στις 16.00 & 17.30, Sundays at 10.00 & 11.30

Ticket price: €5 / per children

Tickets on sale from 30 April 2025: GNO Box Office (daily 9.00-21.00 | 2130885700) and www.ticketservices.gr

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor &

Educational Programme Donor

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As part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0.” which is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

 

Experiential training workshops series for trainers focusing on issues related to individuals aged 65 and over

May 2024 – July 2025

The series of experiential training workshops for trainers focusing on issues related to individuals aged 65 and over has been designed for cultural professionals, art and non-formal education educators, and all those who wish to engage in artistic education. Using music theatre, music, and theatre,  participants will learn how to incorporate the concepts of inclusion and accessibility in designing, organizing, and implementing educational activities for 65+ adults.

 

Experiential training workshops series for trainers focusing on issues related to disabled individuals

May 2024 – July 2025

The series of experiential training workshops for trainers focusing on issues related to individuals with disabilities has been designed for cultural professionals, art and non-formal education educators, and all those interested in inclusion and accessibility issues. The workshops aim to develop and disseminate the necessary know-how to help participants achieve greater inclusion and accessibility in designing, organizing, and implementing educational activities for groups of disabled individuals or mixed groups, including disabled individuals.

 

Training the GNO staff on issues concerning individuals aged 65 and over and disabled individuals

October 2024 – June 2025

Committed to truly integrating the concepts of accessibility and inclusion in the Greek National Opera, the theatre’s staff will attend educational seminars to acquire essential skills related to accommodating people with disabilities and those aged 65 and older, with the goal of optimizing audience services and improving the theatre's overall functioning. More specifically, participants will learn how to develop inclusive practices for audience reception and broader artistic programming. They will also receive training and support on mobility and communication issues.

 

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture is the funding body for the Project “SUB.1.1.6 Attracting individuals aged 65 and over and individuals with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”. This project is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0.” and  is funded by the European Union -  NextGenerationEU.  

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Coordination & Educational Supervision of the Project: Kiki Kerzeli

Assistant Project Coordinator: George Papadakis

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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Melisma, the diverse year-long series of artistic and educational workshops for individuals of all ages in Northern Evia, is back in a renewed version.

In the next phase, the programme will center on the local traditions and history of the area through arts and crafts. It will attempt to link traditional practices with modern art and creative expression, with the goal of developing and producing a fresh piece of music theater through a creative process. This new music theatre piece will focus on a contemporary perspective regarding the various local musical traditions, dances, mores and customs, contrasts, and shared elements from the broader region of Northern Evia.

Moreover, the upcoming cycle of the Melisma programme will feature a series of events (concerts, dance performances, projections, etc.) scheduled to take place in various villages across Northern Evia. These events aim to bring local residents closer to opera, dancing, and the repertoire of the Greek National Opera.

 

Melisma is funded by the Ministry of Culture

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GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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The Learning & Participation Department of the Greek National Opera participates in the first phase of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Prescription Pilot Projects with two trimestral cycles of music therapy workshops titled Women’s Paths and Bridges: Exploring Women’s Experiences through Voice, Music, and Storytelling. The programme aims to expand and bring out the psychotherapeutic properties of the arts. During the workshops, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy musical experiences based on the use of fundamental music therapy techniques, such as improvisation, performance, composition, and music listening. These techniques are related to singing, vocal exercises, playing musical instruments, and storytelling through analysis of the lyrics and narration of stories. The programme also includes attending selected opera, music theatre, and ballet performances.

 

The programme is part of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Prescription Pilot Projects, which falls under the “NextGenerationEU” programme that is funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0.” 

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GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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As part of the Project “SUB.1.1.6  Attracting individuals aged 65 and over and individuals with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”

 

The new intergenerational workshop Let Me Tell You A Fairy Tale brings to the foreground known and unknown fairy tales from around the world. The programme is designed for individuals aged 65 and over and children aged 8 to 12. It invites them to embark on a fascinating voyage through time using stories, songs, and storytelling, with the goal of building communication bridges between the generations.

Starting with fairy tales and stories derived from the folk traditions of many countries, participants will partake in a wide range of experiential games and technical exercises focused on the art of storytelling. They will sing melodies based on the stories and use basic musical instruments to co-create original soundscapes that will accompany the storytelling process.

The programme will be carried out in schools across the Attica region – outside the regular curriculum –  following prior agreement with the respective school principals.

The programme will be implemented in schools in Attica, outside the regular curriculum, during November 2024, January, February, March, April, and May 2025, following prior agreement with the respective school principals.

 

The Hellenic Ministry of Culture is the funding body for the Project “SUB.1.1.6 Attracting individuals aged 65 and over and individuals with disabilities to events of the Greek National Opera”. This project is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0.” and  is funded by the European Union -  NextGenerationEU.  

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Coordination & Educational Supervision of the Project: Kiki Kerzeli

Assistant Project Coordinator: George Papadakis

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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An intercultural opera hub for a mixed group of 30 Athenians and unaccompanied asylum-seeking young persons aged 14-18 from across Attica

 

 Winner of the FEDORA Education Prize 2019

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After a successful four-year run, the intercultural opera hub for teenagers, Co-OPERAtive, is back for a fifth season and has upgraded its goals.

Foregrounding the importance of interculturality in artistic creation, the program hosts a group of 30 young individuals of diverse nationalities, Athenians and minor asylum seekers, every year. They participate in a series of weekly workshops with distinguished artists from the realms of music, theatre, and dance, which eventually lead to the co-creation and presentation of an original music theatre work in front of a wide audience. This season, esteemed artists will guide participants to develop a shared artistic language and collaborate on creating their own music theatre piece. The final presentation will take place at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera, which offers seating for 1,400 audience members.

This year’s team of educators/artists consists of Panos Iliopoulos (musician, composer), Markellos Chryssicos (conductor), Vasilis Vilaras (director), Lemonia Gianniri (dramaturg), Pavlos Thanopoulos (set & costume designer), Giota Kouitzoglou (theatre workshop manager) and Ilias Hatzigeorgiou (dancer, choreographer). This year’s project will be inspired by Franz Schubert's song cycle Winterreise, which is set to poetry by Wilhelm Müller. The final performance will take place on 7 June 2025 in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.

 

In collaboration with the non-profit organizations European Expression, Zefxis, Home Project and the humanitarian organization Kinoniko EKAV

euro       ZEUXIS logo     TheHomeProject CMYK    ekav

 

 

GNO Learning & Participation Lead Donor

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