A rich cultural summer is being prepared by the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtia, honoring the memory, work, and timeless influence of the great Cretan writer. Co-organized by the Region of Crete, the Municipality of Archanes-Asterousia, and the Cultural Association of Myrtia, the event includes a series of events that bring to the fore literary discourse, music, experience, and memory, exactly as Kazantzakis himself would have wanted them.
The curtain opens on Sunday, July 20 (21:00) with the event “Letters to Helen”, a poetic dialogue based on Kazantzakis’ letters to his partner Helen. Actors Nikolis Avramakis and Niki Stavrou bring the words to life with the musical accompaniment of distinguished pianist Alexia Mouza, highlighting the author’s tender and thoughtful side.
On Wednesday, July 31 (21:00), Ross Daly and the Labyrinth Music Workshop present the event “Echoes of the Invisible”. This is a special musical approach to Kazantzakis’ philosophical universe, which attempts to reconstruct the “invisible” sounds and thoughts behind his work. The event is part of the Labyrinth Festival, which also hosts the Museum’s mobile exhibition entitled “Nikos Kazantzakis: Life and Work”.
On August 27 (20:30), the performance “Kazantzakis’ Crete in 7 + 1 Stations” invites the audience to an experiential journey into the author’s relationship with his place. Using literature, music, and oral tradition as a vehicle, creators and members of the local community narrate their deeply rooted Cretan identity.
The curtain falls on this year’s cycle on Friday, September 13 (20:30) with a grand musical and artistic celebration entitled “Mitropoulos, Kazantzakis, Theodorakis – The Meeting of the Three Greats”. The tribute includes two sections: the first concerns the leading conductor and composer Dimitris Mitropoulos, with baritone Tasos Apostolou, soprano Katerina Hatzinikolaou, and pianist Apostolos Palios. The second section focuses on the music of Mikis Theodorakis, based on works by Kazantzakis, performed by Elli Paspala and accompanied by pianist and conductor Miltos Logiadis.
“Summer at Myrtia” is not just a cultural event. It is an invitation to return to a place sacred to contemporary Greek thought – a meeting point between art, memory, and reflection. Through music, speech, and participation, Myrtia 2025 illuminates once again the timeless reflection of Nikos Kazantzakis and conveys it to new generations, as befits a truly global creator.
