· · · · · · ·

Take a peek behind Athens’ best stages

From the Ancient times until the present day, Greece is known for birthing the concept of the theater. Not Greece entirely, but Athens specifically. For the Ancient Athenians, live performances were a part of their everyday culture, bringing to life plays and poetry but it also had a broader sense. Theatrical performances included politics and law, religious rituals, festivals, athletics and gymnastics as well as weddings and funerals. According to the first theoretician of the theater, Aristotle, the origins of theaters are to be found in the rituals and festivals that honored the God Dionysus. The first stages in the world were constructed in a semi-circular way seating approximately 20,000 people and the stage also consisted of an orchestra (dancing floor) and a scene (dressing room). Perhaps the most important aspect of the theater was the acoustics, therefore the men, who were the only actors, apart from playing numerous parts distinguished by the masks they wore, their clear delivery of their words was vital. Today, Athens has 152 theaters and the tradition of going to the theater is still in the Athenians’ culture. The theaters below, stage international and local performances and have a great attribute to the Greek cultural scene. Greek National Opera House Architect Renzo Piano designed Athens’ new opera that belongs to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center since March 2017. The famous architect didn’t hold back, as the finished building is a landmark, so pleasing that locals just like to walk around the beautiful premises. This Opera House uses the latest technology aiding to host any type of productions. Unmissable Performance: May 12th – 22nd:Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk”, directed by Fanny Ardant Megaron – Athens Concert Hall Athens’ proud landmark first opened its doors in 1991. Located in the center of Athens, this music hall initially focused solely on musical performances but now has broaden its program and includes classical and contemporary dance productions, art exhibitions and plays. Two of the spaces within the hall, the Christos Lambrakis Hall with 1,961 seats and the Alexandra Trianti Hall with 1,750 seats are undoubtedly the gems. Unmissable Performance: March 27th: Schubert’s “Sonatas” with Elisabeth Leonskaja Onassis Cultural Center Aristotle Onassis, a man who made his fortune from owning the world’s largest privately owned shipping fleet, also had the desire to establish a cultural institution where it could host musical production, dance performances, fine art exhibitions and in general for it to boast various forms of expressions. In 2010, a futuristic building became a showstopper in the Athenian Capital with it arranging numerous cultural events with a wide spectrum. Unmissable Performance: February 6th – 10th: William Forsythe’s “A Quiet Evening of Dance” National Theater A beautiful renaissance-style building designed by architect Ernst Ziller is home to Athens’ National Theater. The façade of the building was based on Hadrian’s Library with a particularly profuse exterior décor. The interior layout features two galleries and two balconies. The building went under renovation in 2009 and ever sense has become a rare jewel not only offering top-notch equipment and technology but also aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Unmissable Performance: March 3rd – May 26th: Molière’s “The Misanthrope”, directed by Yannis Houvardas Municipal Theater of Piraeus Architect Ioannis Lazarimos designed the eminent Theater of Piraeus with references to Ernst Ziller and the German school, this building is a notable sight in Piraeus in 1895. In 2008, the building underwent renovation and restoration. Thankfully, one of the only surviving baroque stages in Europe was uncovered. Today, people from all over Attica visit this magnificent building and enjoy the amazing performances they select. Unmissable Performance: February 22nd – April 21st: Georg Büchner’s “Woyzeck”, directed by Katerina Evangelatos Maria Nikolakaki is Managing Partner at Beyond Spaces Villas. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Maria Nikolakaki

Maria Nikolakaki is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Beyond Spaces Villas. Beyond Spaces Villas is one of the leading luxury villa specialist in Greece, going beyond finding the perfect Greek Island luxury villa and design a sophisticated and branded villa experience seeped in luxury, exclusivity and bespoke service from start to finish. Prior to her involvement in the luxury hospitality Industry, she spend 20 years in the capital markets in various senior executive positions based in various countries. She has lived in London, New York and Moscow and has travelled extensively to almost 35 countries with a travel attitude of finding the non guides guides.

Did you enjoy this article?

Receive similar content direct to your inbox.

5 Comments

  1. Aristotle would be proud of his fellow Athenians. They’ve come a long way since he first sat down to try to define what tragedy is. He would certainly be impressed by some of these uber modern theatres.

  2. I always think that travel is better when you can join the locals as they head for ballet, concerts or theatres in the evening. It is good to have a purpose to the evening. Far better to get out and see a top-class performance than mooching about the hotel. Athens certainly ticks all the boxes on this score.

  3. What a mixture of architectural styles. Personally my favourite is the Piraeus Thestre. You just can’t beat the elegant balanced proportions of Baroque. It’s got a refined sophistication to it.

  4. One can always watch theater acts but not everyone gets the chance to watch it in Athens. I assume watching it in Athens, or visiting the best stages in Athens at least once in a man’s lifetime is one of the most popular items in every theater-lover’s bucket list. I hope I can at least see one of these stages, it will surely be a magical moment for me.

  5. I really appreciate how Greece values their own culture. They never forget what their ancestors built and started, honoring it up until this day despite the growth of modern technology and other advancements which is still growing as time goes by. It’s very heartwarming to know that a country values their history so much that they never forget the works of the people who started it all.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *