THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Ancient Greek theatre revives legendary Callas opera Medea Ancient Greek theatre revives legendary Callas opera Medea Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Press premiere of the opera Medea by Luigi Cherubinis at the Berlin State Opera Unter den Linden, in Berlin, Germany, on Oct 1, 2018. PHOTO: EPA Published Jun 20, 2026, 04:17 PM Updated Jun 20, 2026, 04:41 PM Listen PALAIA EPIDAVROS, Greece – Sixty-five years after it last hosted an opera performance, Greece’s renowned ancient theatre of Epidaurus is revisiting the seminal 1961 performance of Medea, headlined by Maria Callas in one of the legendary soprano’s career highlights. The one-night, sold-out performance on June 20 stars Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi, who told AFP she intends to make the role her own in the 2,500-year-old amphitheatre renowned for its exceptional acoustics. “I don’t want to copy, I don’t want to imitate” Maria Callas, Pirozzi said in her dressing room shortly before the dress rehearsal on June 18 . “I love... how (Callas) interprets the role. I took a few gestures she used in 1961 because I think they’re very dramatic,” the 51-year-old added. This lyric tragedy, in which Medea, a figu…

At the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, Medea by Luigi Cherubini. The Greek National Opera revivesMedeaby Luigi Cherubini at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus for a unique performance on June 20, 2026 — sixty-five years after the legendary 1961 production starring Maria Callas in the title role, directed by Alexis Minotis, with sets and costumes by Yannis Tsarouchis and choreography by Maria Hors. As part of its thematic focus for the 2025/26 artistic season — exploring the idea of “the opera of the future through the womb of the past” — the Greek National Opera has chosen to revive the 1961Medeausing the materials and artistic tools of today. Drawing from Minotis’ directing notebooks, Tsarouchis’ original designs, and the rich photographic archive preserved from Callas’ legendary performances at Epidaurus, the production seeks to reconstruct the performance as it was envisioned and presented by those mythical artists who left an indelible mark on Greek culture. Following the closure of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus for restoration works, the Greek National Opera continues its great tradition of summer opera productions — this time at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, nearly seven de…

New staging of “Medea” at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus Theatre New staging of “Medea” at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus by elc team 2 mins read The Greek National Opera presents at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, in a single performance on June 20, 2026 , the opera Medea by Luigi Cherubini, reconstructing the legendary 1961 production, directed by Alexis Minotis, with sets and costumes by Yiannis Tsarouchis, choreography by Maria Hors, and starring Maria Callas in the title role. Ticket pre-sales begin on Monday, February 2, 2026 at 12:00 , through the Greek National Opera Box Office and more.com. A few words about the historic 1961 production In 1961, Maria Callas accepted an invitation from the founding Director of the Greek National Opera, Kostis Bastias , to perform Medea at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus — one year after her first appearance there in Norma . Medea , first presented by Cherubini in Paris in 1797, was among the operas that Callas reintroduced to 20th-century audiences, beginning in Florence in 1953. When the newly founded Dallas Opera commissioned a new production in 1958, Callas requested that it be directed by Alexis Minotis, a figure closely associ…

Ancient Greek theatre revives legendary Callas opera 'Medea' Latest Malaysia breaking stories on politics, analysis and opinions PALAIA EPIDAVROS (Greece), June 21 — Sixty-five years after it last hosted an opera performance, Greece’s renowned ancient theatre of Epidaurus is revisiting the seminal 1961 performance ofMedea, headlined by Maria Callas in one of the legendary soprano’s career highlights. Saturday’s one-night, sold-out performance stars Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi, who told AFP she intends to make the role her own in the 2,500-year-old amphitheatre renowned for its exceptional acoustics. “I don’t want to copy, I don’t want to imitate” Maria Callas, Pirozzi said in her dressing room shortly before the dress rehearsal on Thursday. “I love (...) how (Callas) interprets the role. I took a few gestures she used in 1961 because I think they’re very dramatic,” the 51-year-old added. This lyric tragedy, in which Medea, a figure of Greek mythology consumed by fury and despair, kills her children, opens the 2026 edition of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The 1797 opera by Luigi Cherubini, inspired by Euripides’s tragedy, was plucked out of oblivion by Callas’s performance …

Ancient Epidaurus theater revives Callas' 1961 'Medea' opera Sixty-five years after it last hosted an opera performance, Greece's renowned ancient theater of Epidaurus is revisiting the seminal 1961 performance of Medea, headlined by Ma...

Medea - Performance at Epidaurus | Greek National Opera Historic production of 1961Stage director:Alexis MinotisSets, costumes:Yannis TsarouchisChoreography:Maria Hors Reimagined version of the1961 historic productionArtistic direction:Giorgos KoumendakisConductor:Jacques LacombeStage director:Panaghis PagoulatosSets:Lili PezanouCostumes:Tota PritsaChoreography:Gianna Filippopoulou, Kelly ZambelaLighting:Christos TziogkasChorus master:Agathangelos Georgakatos MedeaAnna Pirozzi GlauceDanae Kontora NerisAlisa Kolosova GiasoneJean-François Borras CreonteTassis Christoyannis Captain of the GuardYannis Stamatakis First maidEmily Tsimidaki Second maidIrena Athanasiou With theOrchestraandChorusof theGreek National Opera On the occasion of the reimagining of the historic 1961Medeaperformance at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the Greek National Opera presents the exhibitionCallas Pointin the surroundings of the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, from 18 to 21 June 2026, with the support of PPC. The exhibition is curated by the internationally renowned Greek set designer Dionysis Fotopoulos, while the video art and video installation are created by visual artist and video designer …

Epidaurus theater brings Callas opera back to stage - Türkiye Today Sixty-five years after its last opera performance, Greece's famous ancient theater of Epidaurus is bringing back the legendary 1961 staging of Medea, which featured Maria Callas in one of the legendary soprano's career highlights. Saturday's one-night, sold-out performance stars Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi, who toldAgence France-Presse (AFP) that she intends to make the role her own in the 2,500-year-old amphitheater renowned for its exceptional acoustics. "I don't want to copy, I don't want to imitate," Maria Callas, Pirozzi said in her dressing room shortly before the dress rehearsal on Thursday. "I love (...) how (Callas) interprets the role. I took a few gestures she used in 1961 because I think they're very dramatic," the 51-year-old added. This lyric tragedy, in which Medea, a figure of Greek mythology consumed by fury and despair, kills her children, opens the 2026 edition of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The 1797 opera by Luigi Cherubini, inspired by Euripides's tragedy, was plucked out of oblivion by Callas's performance at the time. Medea director Panaghis Pagoulatos said Callas and Pirozzi "shar…