With melodies serving as prayers and Athens transforming into a stage of spiritual immersion, the 3rd Sacred Music Festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Greek National Opera, is set to take place from April 12 to April 16. Now in its third and most diverse edition, the festival spans five days of events, from Lazarus Saturday to Holy Wednesday, blending art, tradition, and spirituality, and will be hosted in historic churches such as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, as well as venues like the Acropolis Museum, and iconic landmarks like the Fethiye Mosque.
“Given that sacred music has played a crucial role in the development and evolution of Western civilization, the festival will showcase music created for religious purposes or inspired by the divine, with broad aesthetic and conceptual interpretations that explore humanity’s relationship with the transcendental. Additionally, it will examine the connection between religious worship and music across various traditions and perspectives,” stated Giorgos Koumendakis, Artistic Director of the Greek National Opera and curator of the festival, during a presentation of the program on Monday.
Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni announced that parts of the festival’s events will be made available for viewing on the Ministry’s new platform by the end of the year. She emphasized that “for Orthodox Christianity, Easter is the pinnacle of Christian worship. It is the moment of the Divine Passion and Resurrection. The multifaceted nature of the Sacred Music Festival embodies this essence, making the festival an entity in itself.”
500 Artists, 40 Events
This year’s program, featuring more than 500 artists, includes 40 concerts and artistic performances with free admission, offering a panorama that spans from Byzantine music to contemporary sounds. A standout feature is the walking performances by bands around the Acropolis.
Festival Highlights
Saturday, April 13
- 5:00 PM – Vassilis Tsitsanis – The Saint of Love
A unique concert blending the songs of Vassilis Tsitsanis with Byzantine music. Performances by Dimitra Galani, the Estoudiantina Neas Ionias of Volos, and the Greek Byzantine Choir.
Location: Acropolis Museum - 8:00 PM – Requiem in C Minor by Luigi Cherubini
One of the most significant sacred music compositions of the 19th century, performed by the Athens Municipality Symphony Orchestra under Alkis Baltas, honoring the late pianist Vicky Stylianou.
Location: Olympia Municipal Music Theatre “Maria Callas” - 8:30 PM – Bach in the Sky with Diamonds
A fusion of Bach’s masterpieces with iconic melodies from The Beatles, Bill Evans, and Hiromi Uehara, arranged by pianist and composer Alexandra Papastefanou.
Location: Old Athens Stock Exchange
Sunday, April 14
- 5:30 PM – Noye’s Fludde – Opera for Children
A captivating opera for children, presented for the first time in Greece, directed by Themelis Glynatsis.
Location: Olympia Municipal Music Theatre “Maria Callas” - 5:30 PM & 7:30 PM – Oh, My Sweet Spring
Vamos Orchestra reimagines Holy Week with Epitafios and The Mauthausen Trilogy by Mikis Theodorakis, alongside traditional Good Friday hymns All Generations Mourn.
Location: Acropolis Museum - 10:00 PM – Holy Tuesday Mystical Hymns
A moving choral performance of Holy Tuesday hymns by the musicAeterna Byzantina choir, led by Theodoros Currentzis, with narration by Amalia Moutoussi.
Location: Old Athens Stock Exchange
Monday, April 15
- 6:30 PM – Paradise Lost – Morfé Δemoníon (Forms of Demons) (World Premiere)
A dramatic new composition by Nikos Galenianos, exploring themes of Eve’s dream of Paradise lost, nature’s lament, and the serpent’s connection with the devil. Featuring Ioanna Vrakatseli, Danae Bletsa, Artemis Bogri, and the female choral ensemble Chórēs.
Location: Old Athens Stock Exchange - 8:00 PM – Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14
Conductor Markellos Chryssikos leads Bulgaria’s independent string orchestra Drop Down Community, with mezzo-soprano Theodora Baka and bass Timos Sirlantzis.
Location: Greek National Opera Alternative Stage
Tuesday, April 16
- 5:30 PM & 7:00 PM – Vanya Moneva Choir
The Bulgarian Vanya Moneva Choir presents traditional Bulgarian music, showcasing the incredible versatility of the human voice.
Location: Greek National Opera Alternative Stage - 8:00 PM – Easter Concert by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra
A stunning performance of works by Dimitris Mitropoulos, Richard Strauss, and Harilaos Perpessas, conducted by Leo McFall.
Location: Stavros Niarchos Hall
