The Greek National Opera presents recordings of rare works by Greek composers

The Greek National Opera presents, for the first time, a series of digital recordings of selected works by Greek composers, introducing audiences to largely unknown gems of the Greek musical legacy. The GNO collection includes operas, operettas, chamber music, songs for voice and orchestra, piano pieces, and string quartets, concentrated in ten unique albums. The first cycle of recordings, which includes the opera Galatea by Emilios Riadis and the operettas War in War, The Princess of Sasson, and The Cretan Girl by Spyridon Samaras, is available on all digital platforms, as well as on the GNO’s YouTube channel. This work falls under the Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0,” funded by the European Union – NextGeneration EU.

With this new record edition, the Greek National Opera continues its effort to consistently showcase Greek operatic works from the early 20th century that, despite their artistic and historical significance, have remained out of active circulation for decades. Through scientific research, the restoration of manuscript sources, and the critical processing of musical material, this initiative aims not only to rescue these works but also to reintroduce them to contemporary audiences.

The recordings shed light on different facets of Greek musical creation during a period of profound aesthetic and ideological transformations: from the relationship with major European trends to the formation of a Greek bourgeois music theatre. This edition aims to contribute to a reevaluation of that era, highlighting the compositional polyphony and theatrical dynamics of works that deserve a new place in the historical and artistic dialogue.

THE LIST OF WORKS
Standing out in the list are works by established composers such as Emilios Riadis, Spyridon Samaras, Paolo Carrer, Manolis Kalomiris, Michalis Poniridis, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Georgios Lambelet, Dionysios Lavrangas, and Vasilis Kalafatis. The recordings were made in collaboration with the Thessaloniki State Orchestra, the Chorus of Opera Plovdiv, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the ERT Choir, as well as with numerous distinguished musicians and performers. The Project Manager and curator of this cycle of recordings is the director and Associate Professor in the Department of Performing and Digital Arts at the University of Peloponnese, Alexandros Efklidis.

The series includes two world-first recordings: the opera Galatea by Emilios Riadis, performed by the Thessaloniki State Orchestra and Opera Plovdiv's Chorus, and the operetta War in War by Spyridon Samaras, performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and the ERT Chorus. Moreover, the collection features the operettas The Princess of Sasson and The Cretan Girl by Samaras; songs for voice and orchestra by Riadis, Mitropoulos, and Carrer; the complete recording of Samaras’ piano works, as well as his works for voice and piano; the early songs by Manolis Kalomiris; Greek chamber music works by Carrer, Poniridis, and Kalomiris; and Greek string quartet pieces by Lambelet, Lavrangas, and Kalafatis. The entire set of recordings offers a rich and diverse panorama of sophisticated Greek music, showcasing its breadth, timelessness, and artistic value. The Hellenic Music Centre, founded by musicologists Yannis Samprovalakis and Yannis Tselikas, has been a valuable collaborator throughout the Project's implementation.

RELEASE DATES
The series of digital recordings will be released to the public in three cycles. The first cycle includes operas and operettas; the second, songs; and the third, orchestral works. More specifically, the release dates for the works are as follows:

1^st CYCLE | RELEASE DATE: 23 APRIL 2026
Spyridon Samaras: War in War
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's YouTube channel

Spyridon Samaras: The Princess of Sasson
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's YouTube channel

Spyridon Samaras: The Cretan Girl
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's YouTube channel

Emilios Riadis: Galatea
Available on the GNO's YouTube channel

2^nd CYCLE | RELEASE DATE: 8 MAY 2026
Riadis, Mitropoulos, Carrer: Songs for voice and orchestra
Spyridon Samaras: Songs for voice and piano
Manolis Kalomiris: The early songs

3^rd CYCLE | RELEASE DATE: 29 MAY 2026
Carrer, Poniridis, Kalomiris: Greek chamber music works
Spyridon Samaras: Piano works
Labelet, Lavrangas, Kalafatis: Greek string quartets

The recordings will be available on all digital platforms, as well as on the Greek National Opera’s YouTube channel, offering audiences the chance to discover and enjoy rare works released in digital form for the first time.

Project manager, curator: Alexandros Efklidis
Musical content supervision, cycle supervision: Hellenic Music Centre
Production planning and execution: Angelos Mastrantonis, Marianna Tassy
Project coordinators: Panina Karydi, Giorgos Papadakis

Greek National Opera Recordings Series
Selected Works by Greek Composers

Opera in three acts • World-first recording
Emilios Riadis
Galatea
Available on the GNO's YouTube channel
The Greek National Opera presents, for the first time, a complete recorded version of Emilios Riadis’ (1880-1935) opera Galatea, composed in Paris in 1912-1913. The opera, with a libretto by Pierre-Charles Jablonski, survives in part in the composer’s archival materials, including the full orchestration of Act II and extensive drafts of the rest. The consistent study of the manuscripts held at the Lilian Voudouri Music Library of Greece enabled Vladimiros Symeonidis to scientifically restore and complete the work, giving it a comprehensive, stylistically documented form. This recording highlights Riadis’ Parisian period and his relationship with the European musical environment of the early 20th century, illuminating a lesser-known but decisive aspect of his work.

Based on the myth of Pygmalion, as found mainly in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Galatea unfolds in three acts. The heroine’s statue comes to life, and the arrival of Rennos, Pygmalion’s brother, sparks a romantic and dramatic conflict. Galatea’s love for Rennos leads to a rupture with her creator, transforming the story from a myth of inspiration into a tragedy of independence. The final act ends with the heroine’s death, leaving Pygmalion to confront the loss and hubris of his own creation. The work combines elements of French grand opéra with symbolist dramaturgy, reflecting the young Riadis’ aesthetic identity.

Language: French
Composer: Emilios Riadis
Libretto: Pierre-Charles Jablonski
Manuscript restoration – Orchestration completion – Editorial supervision: Vladimiros Symeonidis
Assistant editors: Christos Dovas, Constantinos Lykoyriotis
Libretto editor: Alexandros Efklidis

Conductor: Vladimiros Symeonidis

Galateia: Mary-Ellen Nesi
Pygmalion: Yiannis Christopoulos
Rennos: Dionysis Sourbis
Menalkas: Manos Kokkonis
Old Servant: Konstantinos Katsaras

Thessaloniki State Orchestra
Plovdiv Opera Choir
Chorus Master: Dragomir Yossifov
Children & Youth Choir of the Friends of Music Society of Thessaloniki
Choir training: Sophia Gioldasi
Musical preparation: Dimitra Athanasatou

Producer, digital editing: Antonis Sousamoglou
Tonmeisterin: Sofia Tamvakopoulou
Sound engineering, Mix, Mastering: Alexandros Raidis

Co-production: Thessaloniki State Orchestra – Greek National Opera – Thessaloniki Concert Hall Organization
Recording venue: Thessaloniki Concert Hall | Recording dates: 13–16 May 2024

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Operetta in three acts
Spyridon Samaras
The Princess of Sasson
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's YouTube channel
The Princess of Sasson, first performed on 21 January 1915, is a typical example of the connection between music theatre and the current political affairs of the early 20th century. The work draws inspiration from the “diplomatic adventures” of the island of Sasson, turning a topical issue into staged satire with a cosmopolitan musical style. Despite the success of its initial performances, there has been no comprehensive documentation of its recordings to date. This restoration, based on multiple archival sources, allows for a renewed exploration of a work that captures Samaras’ shift towards a more theatrical and bourgeois idiom.

The story unfolds on Sasson Island (situated north of Corfu and west of Avlonas, Albania), which the wealthy American Dolly has transformed into a peculiar dominion. Despite its economic prosperity, her reign incites ironic criticism and discontent. When Captain Vangos from Epirus arrives to warn her of an imminent invasion, the balance is disrupted as a romantic attraction sparks between him and the Princess. As court intrigues unfold and the actual attack approaches, Vangos saves the island. Dolly abdicates her position and follows him, leading to an ending marked by a blend of satire and romance.

Libretto: Nikolaos Laskaris
Dialogue adaptation: Alexandros Efklidis
Music score editing: Yannis Tselikas — Hellenic Music Centre

Princess Dolly: Anna Stylianaki
Betty: Marilena Striftobola
Sabuko: Margarita Syngeniotou
Vaggos: Dimitris Paksoglou
Petros: Nikos Kotenidis
Paraskevas: Yannis Filias
Don Alonzo: Yannis Yannissis
Signor Siropeti: Yannis Kalyvas
Von Krapfen: Georgios Papadimitriou
Conductor: Yannis Protopapas

ERT National Symphony Orchestra
ERT Chorus
Chorus Master: Michalis Papapetrou

Recording • Editing • Mixing • Mastering: Nikos Theodorakopoulos — Recording Department of ERT Music Ensembles
Tonmeister: Yannis Samprovalakis
Music Consultant: Hara Vlachou
ERT Broadcasting House, Studio C

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Operetta in three acts • World-first recording
Spyridon Samaras
War in War
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's  YouTube channel

War in War, Spyridon Samaras’ first operetta, premiered on 10 April 1914 at the Municipal Theatre of Athens, marking not only the composer’s entry into the world of light music theater but, essentially, the birth of Greek operetta. During a period when the Greek music scene was seeking its own distinct bourgeois style, Samaras sought to combine his international experience with the demands of a broader audience. The recent discovery of its libretto in the Greek National Opera’s library and the critical revision of its musical material have allowed for a more complete representation of the work, which is being reintroduced today as a major record of early Greek operettas.

The story unfolds on the eve of a war in an imaginary land. At a hotel near the front, several military men, journalists, and secular figures gather. The arrival of the wealthy Croesus and his daughter, Lefki, ignites romantic and social plots. Lefki is in love with Lieutenant Hector and is called upon to defend her choice against various interests and intrigue. The title suggests a dual conflict: the true war and the heroes’ personal struggle. After a series of misunderstandings, disguises, and subversions, the victory on the front and the revelation of the plots lead to a happy ending.

Libretto: Georgios Tsokopoulos & Ioannis Delikaterinis
Dialogue adaptation: Dimitris Dimopoulos
Music score editing: Yannis Tselikas — Hellenic Music Centre

Lefki: Marilena Striftobola
Butterfly: Chrissa Maliamani
Andronice: Eleni Calenos
Erasmia: Margarita Syngeniotou
Hector: Yannis Christopoulos
Polydeuces: Christos Kechris
Bebes: Nicolas Maraziotis
Faraboutinis: Yannis Selitsaniotis
Katramados: Anthony Kordopatis
Kondaremos: Ioannis Kontellis
Croesus: Petros Magoulas
Sergeant: Dimitris Dimopoulos

Conductor: Zoi Tsokanou
ERT National Symphony Orchestra
ERT Chorus
Chorus Master: Michalis Papapetrou

Sound engineer, mixing, mastering (MD): N. Theodorakopoulos — Recording Dpt. of ERT Music Ensembles
Tonmeister: Y. Samprovalakis
Music Consultant: Chara Siorou

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Operetta in three acts
Spyridon Samaras
The Cretan Girl
Available on all digital platforms and on the GNO's YouTube channel
The Cretan Girl, first performed on 20 March 1916, is Spyridon Samaras’ final work for the stage, and, at the same time, a peculiar artistic epilogue. Composed during a period of intense political ferment, a few years after Crete’s union with Greece, the work combines historical background with lively stage elements. The new recording, based on manuscript sources from the archives of the Greek National Opera and Theatre Museum, presents the work in a complete and well-documented format, allowing for a revised evaluation of the composer’s latest piece.

In Venice-ruled Crete, Areti disguises herself as a man to take part in the island’s liberation plan. Meanwhile, romantic and political misunderstandings arise between the Cretans and the Venetian Court. The conflicts eventually lead to reconciliation and a double wedding, suggesting an ideal coexistence. The music contrasts the Greek idiom –  including elements such as the rhythms of sousta and pentozali, along with references to folk tradition – with European dance rhythms, oscillating between comic opera and operetta.

Libretto: Nikolaos Laskaris & Polyvios Dimitrakopoulos
Dialogue adaptation: Alexandros Efklidis
Music score editing: Yannis Tselikas — Hellenic Music Centre

Areti (The Cretan Girl): Eleni Calenos
Pavlos: Konstantinos Klironomos
Countess: Marilena Striftobola
Michalis: Christos Kechris
Duke: Michalis Psyrras
Duchess: Julia Souglakou
Fourlanos: Georgios Iatrou
Don Placido: Ioannis Kontellis
Lefteris: Dimitros Dimipoulos
Conductor: Miltos Logiadis
ERT National Symphony Orchestra
ERT Chorus
Chorus Master: Michalis Papapetrou

Sound engineer, mixing, mastering (MD): N. Theodorakopoulos — Recording Department of ERT Music Ensembles
Tonmeister: Y. Samprovalakis
Music Consultant: Chara Siorou
Recording venue: ERT Broadcasting Complex, Studio C

As part of the Work “Sub 6.6 Events of the Greek National Opera for showcasing modern Greek culture, with code ΟΠΣ ΤΑ 518052. This work falls under the Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0” funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU.