Mezzo Live HD hosts a Greek National Opera Cycle

The world’s leading classical music channel features a tribute to the GNO this December

with the global broadcast of Juditha triumphans, The Murderess, and Wozzeck

Three emblematic productions of the Greek National Opera will be broadcast worldwide on the international TV classical music channel Mezzo in December 2021. Antonio Vivaldi’s Juditha triumphans and Giorgos Koumendakis’ The Murderess will be broadcast for the first time and Alban Berg’s Wozzeck will be repeated, as part of the “Greek National Opera Cycle” dedicated to the only Greek opera house. The partnership with Mezzo is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) [www.SNF.org] to enhance the Greek National Opera’s artistic outreach.

The GNO’s partnership with Mezzo began in 2020 with the filming and broadcast of the production of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, conducted by Vassilis Christopoulos and directed by Olivier Py, with Tassis Christoyannis in the title role. It continued in April 2021 with the filming of Antonio Vivaldi’s baroque opera Juditha triumphans, conducted by Markellos Chryssicos and directed by Thanos Papakonstantinou, with the participation of the leading baroque ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, the Armonia Atenea orchestra and a world-class starry cast. On 3 and 5 December 2021, Mezzo comes for the third time to Athens to film Giorgos Koumendakis’ The Murderess under the baton of Vassilis Christopoulos, directed by Alexandros Efklidis and with Mary-Ellen Nesi in the title role.

• The first global television broadcast of Juditha triumphans on Mezzo Live HD has been scheduled for Saturday 4 December 2021 at 18.00 (Greece time)
• The first global television broadcast of The Murderess on Mezzo Live HD has been scheduled for Sunday 12 December 2021 at 22.00 (Greece time).
• Wozzeck’s premiere has been scheduled for Sunday 5 December 2021 at 22.00 (Greece time)

Meanwhile, throughout December, Mezzo Live HD will be presenting the show Mezzo Backstage, which will be dedicated to the Greek National Opera with its Artistic Director Giorgos Koumendakis as keynote speaker.

Mezzo broadcasts in over 80 countries across the world. From its foundation in 1996 in France to this date it is considered to be the world’s leading channel on classical music, opera, jazz and dance, with a devoted international audience. It features the most important opera and dance productions, as well as concerts from the world’s leading opera houses and big concert halls. In Greece, Mezzo broadcasts via Cosmote TV.

Greek National Opera Cycle – December 2021 | MEZZO Live HD

Juditha triumphans

Antonio Vivaldi

First global television broadcast: Saturday 4 December 2021 at 18.00, Greece time

Schedule of upcoming broadcasts: mezzo.tv/en

Filmed without a live audience in the GNO Stavros Niarchos Hall on 19 and 21 April 2021.

Conductor: Markellos Chryssicos / Director: Thanos Papakonstantinou / Sets – Costumes: Niki Psychogiou / Movement coach: Amalia Kosma / Lighting: Christina Thanasoula / Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos / Children’s chorus mistress: Konstantina Pitsiakou

Juditha: Roxana Constantinescu / Holofernes: Kristina Hammarström / Vagaus: Inga Kalna / Abra: Theodora Baka / Ozias: Sophia Patsi

With the Armonia Atenea orchestra, the musical ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, the GNO Chorus and members of the GNO Children's Chorus

The Murderess

Giorgos Koumendakis

First global television broadcast: Sunday 12 December 2021 at 22.00, Greece time

Schedule of upcoming broadcasts: mezzo.tv/en

To be filmed in the GNO Stavros Niarchos Hall on 3 & 5 December 2021.

Libretto: Yannis Svolos, based on Alexandros Papadiamantis’ “social novel” of the same title / Conductor:

Vassilis Christopoulos / Director: Alexandros Efklidis / Associate director: Angela-Kleopatra Saroglou / Sets: Petros Touloudis / Costumes: Petros Touloudis – Ioanna Tsami / Lighting: Vinicio Cheli / Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos / Children’s chorus mistress: Konstantina Pitsiakou

Frangoyannoù (The Murderess): Mary-Ellen Nesi / Maroussò: Anna Stylianaki / Ioassaf: Tassos Apostolou / Delcharò: Myrto Bocolini / Yannis Perivolàs: Vangelis Maniatis / Yannoù: Sophia Kyanidou / Xenoula’s mother: Fylli Georgiadou / First police officer: Yannis Christopoulos / A magistrate: Yanni Yannissis / Second police officer / Assessor: Nicholas Stefanou / Kriniò: Marilena Striftobola / Toula: Stelina Apostolopoulou / Myrsouda: Miranda Makrynioti / A doctor: Georgios Papadimitriou / Amersa: Maria Konstanta / Konstantìs: Angelos Nerantzis / Lamenting women (polyphonic ensemble): Martha Mavroidi, Maria Melachrinou, Alcmini Basakarou, Ioanna Forti

With the participation of the GNO Orchestra, Chorus, and Children’s Chorus (as part of its educational mission)

Wozzeck

Alban Berg

Premiere: Sunday 5 December 2021 at 22.00, Greece time

Schedule of upcoming broadcasts: mezzo.tv/en

Filmed in the GNO Stavros Niarchos Hall on 31 January & 2 February 2020

Conductor: Vassilis Christopoulos / Director: Olivier Py / Sets – Costumes: Pierre-André Weitz / Lighting: Bertrand Killy / Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos / Children’s chorus mistress:
Konstantina Pitsiakou

Wozzeck: Tassis Christoyannis / Drum Major: Peter Wedd / Andres: Vassilis Kavayas / Captain: Peter Hoare / Doctor: Yanni Yannissis / Apprentice I: Vangelis Maniatis / Apprentice II: Michalis Psyrras / Madman: Panagiotis Priftis / Marie: Nadine Lehner / Margret: Margarita Syngeniotou / Soldier: Christos Lazos

With the GNO Orchestra, Chorus and Children’s Chorus

Lead Donor of the GNO Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)