ATHENS – Wonderful presentations of classical music are among the elements that have led to the emergence of Athens as a cultural hub brimming with young and mature talent, most recently on display at the Opera Gala presented by the Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the City of Athens on October 12.
The Telegraph recently headlined that “Athens is now Europe’s most exciting city” and contributing to that excitement at the moment was the dazzling performance of Internationally acclaimed soprano Eleonora Buratto at the nicely renovated Municipal Music Theater ‘Maria Callas’ in the heart of Athens.
The sold out ‘Olympia’ – as it was long known – reminded how important it is for the development of Greece’s individual musicians and ensembles for there to be excellent venues in addition to the world class ‘Megaron Mousikis’ – the Athens and Thessaloinki concert halls, the Onassis Foundation’s ‘Stegi’, and the facilities of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
The program, which elicited frequent bursts of applause punctuated by “bravo… brava… bravi” featured beloved arias, duets, and choral pieces from works by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Georges Bizet, Alfredo Catalani, and Francesco Cilea.
The principals took their bows to thunderous applause at the Opera Gala in Athens on October 12. In the foreground left to right: Stavros Beris, Tasis Christogiannopoulos, Eleonora Buratto, and Emanuele Quaranta. (Photo: TNH/C. Sirigos)
The evening’s music director and conductor was Emanuele Quaranta, while Stavros Beris was highlighted as the chorus’ instructor. Buratto was complemented by baritone Tasis Christogiannopoulos.
Buratto, resplendent in a white gown embroidered with golden-slivery palm fronds, displayed a self-assurance of person and a rich, expressive voice that served her well presenting the great heroines of the operatic stage, including Verdi’s Aida and his Leonora from ‘La forza del destino’, and Cho-Cho-San from Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly’.
Distinguished pianist George Thanas thoroughly enjoyed the evening and was impressed with Buratto. He told The National Herald that it is challenging for a soprano to convey both Verdi’s lyrical elegance and Puccini’s dramatic intensity in the same performance.
There were duets performed by the soprano and the baritone, and the chorus delighted with passages like ’Va, pensiero’ in Verdi’s iconic ‘Nabucco’, and others from ‘Macbeth’, ‘La Traviata’, and ‘Carmen’. Christogiannopoulos shined in the Torreador’s Song’.
The audience adored Buratto and she showed her appreciation for the acclaim, concluding a fine evening with a sublime presentation of the aria ‘Visi d’arte’ from Puccini’s ‘Tosca’.
