New premieres on GNO TV La bohème Don Quixote

Starting from 20 May 2025 at nationalopera.gr/GNOTV

GNO TV enriches its content with two remarkable online premieres – an opera and a ballet. Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème, conducted by Jacques Lacombe and directed by Graham Vick, along with Ludwig Minkus’ Don Quixote choreographed by Thiago Bordin, will be available online from 20 May 2025 to 20 January 2026 at nationalopera.gr/GNOTV. GNO TV was created and operates with the support of a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation [www.SNF.org] to enhance the Greek National Opera’s artistic outreach.

La bohème on GNO TV

Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème, conducted by Jacques Lacombe and featuring an iconic staging by Graham Vick, revived by Katerina Petsatodi, is coming to GNO TV. Following a series of sold-out performances in December 2024 and March 2025 in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the SNFCC, La bohème will be available from 20 May 2025 to 20 January 2026 at nationalopera.gr/GNOTV.

The stage direction for this production of the famous opera La bohème bears the signature of Graham Vick –“the man saving opera in Britain” (Telegraph)– who created it following an invitation from Stefanos Lazaridis, the Artistic Director of the GNO, in 2007. His successful reading of La bohème, transferring its plot from 19th-century Paris to 21st-century Athens, has created a landmark performance in the history of Greek opera. The sets and costumes were designed by Richard Hudson, lighting was created by Giuseppe di Iorio, and Ron Howell was responsible for the movement. The stage direction was revived by Katerina Petsatodi.

La bohème is based on the novella Scènes de la vie de bohème (Scenes of Bohemian Life) by Henry Murger. Set against the backdrop of an icy Paris at Christmastime, this opera tells the story of the love between the poet Rodolfo and the seamstress Mimì from the moment they meet to her death from consumption. With his powerfully evocative music, Puccini makes audiences run the whole gamut of emotions in sublime ways: carefreeness, joy, great love, and despair.

The cast of La bohème features world-acclaimed soloists and celebrated Greek protagonists from the GNO. Rodolfo is portrayed by the acclaimed tenor Ivan Magrì, and Mimì by South Korean soprano Anna Sohn. Marcello is sung by emerging baritone Nikos Kotenidis, and Musetta by the younger-generation soprano Danae Kontora. The cast also includes Marios Sarantidis, Vangelis Maniatis, Tassos Apostolou, Kostis Rassidakis, Thanassis Evangelou, Ioannis Kontellis, and Yannis Stamatakis. The GNO Chorus is led by Agathangelos Georgakatos, and the GNO Children’s Chorus by Konstantina Pitsiakou.

With the Orchestra, Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the Greek National Opera, as part of its educational mission.

The production was filmed at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera on 21 & 27 December 2024.

Tickets priced at 10 euros for viewing La bohème on GNO TV are available at www.ticketservices.gr.

Major sponsor: PPC
Lead Donor of the GNO: STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION (SNF)

Don Quixote on GNO TV

The highly successful revival of Ludwig Minkus’ classical ballet Don Quixote by the Ballet of the Greek National Opera, featuring choreography by Thiago Bordin based on Marius Petipa’s original work, along with sets by George Souglides and costumes by Mary Katrantzou, is coming to GNO TV. Following its sold-out performances in December 2024 and January 2025 in the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the GNO at the SNFCC, Don Quixote will be available at nationalopera.gr/GNOTV from 20 May 2025 to 20 January 2026.

Don Quixote, one of the most important and popular works in the classical ballet repertoire, is based on episodes drawn from the renowned novel of the same title written by Miguel de Cervantes. It is also one of the most demanding ballets in the repertoire and is considered a major challenge for classical ballet dancers due to its high level of technical difficulty – the manner in which it is performed reveals the standing of a ballet company as a whole. Guided by the singular music of Minkus, the choreography tells a story imbued with the lofty ideals of knighthood and chivalry, and never fails to touch audiences thanks to its skillful mix of comedy and romance.

The production of Don Quixote, which was first presented in the Stavros Niarchos Hall in November 2022 to tremendous success, carries the signatures of choreographer Thiago Bordin, who revived Petipa’s classical choreography, set designer George Souglides, fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, lighting designer Christos Tziogkas, and animator Eirini Vianelli. Stathis Soulis conducts the GNO Orchestra.

Kitri and Basilio are portrayed by two exceptional guest dancers, Madison Young and Victor Caixeta. The Principal Dancer of the GNO, Eleana Andreoudi, performs as Mercedes, and the Principal Dancer of the GNO, Vangelis Bikos, performs as Espada.

Featuring the Orchestra and Ballet of the Greek National Opera, as well as students from the GNO Professional Dance School.

The production was filmed at the Stavros Niarchos Hall of the Greek National Opera on 7 & 8 December 2024.

Tickets priced at 10 euros for viewing Don Quixote on GNO TV are available at www.ticketservices.gr.

Production sponsor: PRODEA
Lead Donor of the GNO: STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION (SNF)

GNO TV at a glance

GNO TV aims to showcase the artistic work of Greece’s only opera house worldwide, expanding the concept of artistic outreach. GNO TV targets a global audience interested in the art of opera, as the GNO’s artistic identity and quality of productions can compete equally in the global online opera market.

GNO TV offers a wide variety of shows, ranging from opera and ballet performances staged in the Stavros Niarchos Hall to operettas, music theatre performances, and festivals presented on the Alternative Stage, as well as shows for the whole family, online festivals, and educational programmes.

GNO TV performances are streamed through the Akamai global content delivery network – an on-demand platform that gives audiences the chance to watch GNO productions in the comfort of their own homes, whenever they choose and as many times as they like, for one full month starting from their first stream.

GNO TV productions are filmed using a multi-camera set-up and are specifically directed for the screen, with subtitles available in Greek and other languages (English, as well as French and/or German, where indicated).

Lead Donor of the GNO & GNO TV Founding Donor
STAVROS NIARCHOS FOUNDATION (SNF)