The GNO has successfully completed its first cycle of international tours across Asia, Africa, and Europe

Over 7,000 audience members attended the GNO performances.

With La traviata in China, Golden Age in Italy and Cyprus, and Les Nuits d’été in South Africa, the Greek National Opera has successfully completed the first cycle of presenting its artistic work abroad for the 2025/26 season. Over 7,000 audience members applauded the GNO’s performances in Asia, Africa and Europe. The GNO international tour programme is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to enhance the GNO’s artistic outreach.

The GNO international tours for the 2025/26 season started in China, where La traviata was presented with unprecedented success on 13 and 14 September 2025, at the packed Guangming Culture & Art Center in Shenzhen – a city of 18 million inhabitants. For the first time in its history, the GNO presented a major opera production in Asia with its entire artistic forces: La traviata, conducted by Lukas Karytinos and featuring staging, sets, and costumes by Nikos S. Petropoulos. Violetta Valéry was performed by both Vassiliki Karayanni and Dimitra Kotidou, while the role of Alfredo was shared by Yannis Christopoulos and Konstantinos Klironomos. Dionysios Sourbis portrayed Giorgio Germont. The production featured soloists, the Orchestra, Chorus, and members of the Ballet of the GNO. Ion Kesoulis revived the staging, and Christos Tziogkas was responsible for the lighting design. The audience gave a rousing standing ovation to everyone involved in the production.

On 18 and 19 September, the Greek National Opera Ballet visited Cyprus to present the production Golden Age, created by Konstantinos Rigos, at the Nicosia International Festival. Erie Kyrgia contributed to the dramaturgy, Petros Touloudis was responsible for the art installation, Daglara designed the costumes, Christos Tziogkas was in charge of the lighting, and Vasilis Kehagias created the videos. The two performances took place in the crowded hall of the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, with audiences giving a standing ovation to the 16 dancers of the GNO Ballet and the entire team responsible for creating this production.

The Greek National Opera travelled to South Africa for the first time in its history, presenting the GNO Ballet’s production Les Nuits d’été, choreographed by Konstantinos Rigos. As part of Dance Intersect 2025, the GNO gave four performances from the 2nd to the 4th of October at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town. The nine dancers of the GNO Ballet, along with everyone else involved in the production, received thunderous applause from the audience that filled all four performances held in Cape Town.

Gorizia, in Italy, hosted the GNO Ballet production Golden Age, created by Konstantinos Rigos, as part of its artistic programme as European Capital of Culture 2025. The performance was held at a packed Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi di Gorizia on 18 October, achieving great success, with audiences giving enthusiastic applause for the GNO Ballet dancers and everyone who contributed to the production.

A duet from Konstantinos Rigos’ Golden Age was performed on 1 November in Bologna, Italy, as part of the 3rd Bologna Ballet Competition. The GNO Ballet dancers Vangelis Bikos and Elena Kekkou, along with Ballet Director and choreographer Konstantinos Rigos, received a hearty round of applause from the audience that flooded the Teatro Duse in Bologna.

The GNO Artistic Director Giorgos Koumendakis notes: “The remarkable success achieved by the Greek National Opera performances abroad fills us with joy and optimism. Our Company’s international outreach has now yielded tangible results, judging by the very positive feedback from the first cycle of our international tours, which has just been completed. The more than 7,000 audience members in Asia, Africa, and Europe who applauded our performances represent a major first reward for the talent and dedication of the Greek National Opera’s artists and staff. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, thanks to whose grant we were able to showcase our work abroad, as well as the Ministry of Culture for its enduring support of our Company.”

Andreas C. Dracopoulos, Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Co-President, states: “We have steadfastly supported the Greek National Opera (GNO) since 2012, particularly in its efforts to reach international audiences, and the cycle of international tours of its productions has been a key milestone in our collaboration. The warm reception they received from audiences in China, South Africa, Italy, and Cyprus is a testament to the GNO’s exceptional artistry, to the people behind it, and the potential of Greece itself. The applause has been universal and knows no borders.”

The Greek National Opera is funded by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture

Lead GNO & Tour Donor: Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)