Return of the Summer

Lead GNO & Tour Supporter

The diptych Return of the Summer presents a dialogue between Ioannis Mandafounis’ Point of No Return, set to music by Giorgos Koumendakis, and GNO Ballet Director Konstantinos Rigos’ Les Nuits d’été, featuring music by Hector Berlioz, resulting in an impressively vibrant and dynamic modern dance programme.

In Point of No Return, the internationally acclaimed dancer and choreographer Ioannis Mandafounis crafts a modern piece that combines dance elements deeply rooted in the tradition of classical ballet. In tune with the music of Giorgos Koumendakis, the GNO Ballet dancers focus on the transparency and authenticity of their moves via the arsenal of classical ballet steps. Although the ensemble’s physical performance reveals an extremely classical choreographic approach, one can still recognise the individuality of the performers as well as a particularly modern treatment of the presence and interpretation of movement. These obvious elements signal the choreographer’s unique style across all of his new works.

The famous song cycle Les Nuits d’été is one of Hector Berlioz’s most popular works. The renowned French composer wrote these six songs for voice and piano, setting poetry by Théophile Gautier. His goal was to musically portray love in its most idealised form through delicate melodies. Inspired by the song cycle of the same title, Konstantinos Rigos creates, together with the GNO Ballet, a work about love, loneliness, the quest, and the journey. Gestures and shapes craft a kaleidoscope of our individual inner summer. The work will be performed by internationally acclaimed baritone Tassis Christoyannis, accompanied by Sofia Tamvakopoulou on the piano.