PERSEPHONE

Elli Papakonstantinou and composer Dimitris Maragopoulos, meet to explore the secret routes of life and death. Also, signing the libretto of the piece, Papakonstantinou gives an ecofeminist take on the classical myth of Persephone and the circle of life that is approached anew from the perspective of the girl (“kore” in Greek).

A journey between new opera, cinematic opera and theatre this is a visual performance, where live video and opera interact in what the director calls “cinematic opera”. Voices of the world from India, Mongolia, Tibet and the Mediterranean, electronic soundscapes, lyric singers, and two choirs of 100 adolescents and 20 kids mark the score.

Megaron The Athens Concert Hall, European Capital of Culture “Eleusis 2023"

A journey where live video and opera interact in what I call “cinematic opera”. Voices of the world from India, Mongolia, Tibet and the Mediterranean, electronic soundscapes, lyric singers, and two choirs of 100 adolescents and 20 kids mark the musical piece.

Concept,  Libretto, Direction:  Elli Papakonstantinou
Composer:  Dimitris Maragopulos

Cast
Dimitra: Savina Yannatou
Hermes: Alkiviadis Konstantopoulos
Persephone: Anna Anastasia Smerou
Pluto: Ilya Algaer
Young Persephone: Μaira Maniara

Choirs
GraduArti Choir (Arsakeion – Tositseion School Graduates)
Music Group (youth choir of Arsakeion – Tositseion School)
Choir Master: Christina Varsami – Koukni
Choir Movement Director: Aimilia Tsami

Video Art: Katerina Savvoglou – Elli Papakonstantinou
Stage Design: Loukia Martha
Costume Design: Fotini Georgiou
Lighting Design: Zois Loumakis

1st Assistant Director: Spyros Sourvinos
2nd Assistant Director: Rea Samaropoulou
3rd Assistant Director: Irini Petropoulou
Stage design assistants: Nina Panou, Daphne Papathymiopoulou, Nada Abtrambo, Iro Livaditi, Dimitris Kontogiorgos

Editing, dubbing and mixing of electroacoustic musical media: Zorzes Katris
Sound Editor: Brian Coon
Recording and editing of music text: Chryssa Foti
Technical Consultant: Andreas Mniestris, Ionian University Electroacoustic Musical Research and Applications Lab

Musical preparation, keyboards: Spiros Souladakis
Cello: Stella Tembreli
Conducted by Dimitris Ktistakis

Promotional Material
Photographer: Αlex Kat