“Didn’t we owe her a night like this?” acclaimed singer and composer Dimitra Galani asked herself, beaming, in dressing rooms packed with people after the penultimate performance of “Even If You Leave,” a tribute to lyricist, radio producer and writer Marianina Kriezi (1947-2022) at the Greek National Opera. The final show is Wednesday at 8 pm at the Stavros Niarchos Hall.
Kriezi, an elusive presence in Greek song, wrote some of its most poetic, lyrically unorthodox hits. The long-overdue homage, inspired by Galani, sold out all four nights quickly, an unexpected commercial success.
Galani shared the stage with Savina Yannatou and Yannis Palamidas. Serafeim Giannakopoulos and Antonis Sousamoglou arranged the songs anew, played by a six-member ensemble and string quartet. Katerina Petsatodi directed; Eirini Vianelli’s animations accompanied the songs’ stories.
