Experience an unforgettable evening of music with world-renowned Dutch violinist and conductor André Rieu and the magnificent Johann Strauss Orchestra, making their debut appearance in Athens as part of the 2024 world tour.

On March 12th and 13th, 2024 one of the most popular musicians in the world, comes to OAKA - Olympic Indoor Hall to enchant the audience with a mesmerizing performance. André Rieu has sold over 40 million albums worldwide, captivating audiences with his high-energy, romantic, and joyful performances. His concerts are known for their dazzling shows featuring lights, elaborate costumes, and audience participation, making each event a truly unique and captivating experience for all ages.

With a repertoire spanning classical masterpieces to waltzes, melodies, and songs from movies, operas, and musicals, André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra are set to offer the audience a night they will never forget.

The audience will also have the opportunity to enjoy the 15-year-old sensation, Emma Kok, whose rendition of "Voilà" by Barbara Pravi went viral with over 60 million views across social media platforms.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center is celebrating Koulouma with songs and dances from all parts of Hellenism.

On Monday, March 18, we ring in Lent and Spring with kites and loads of fun and imagination! From 12.00 to 15.00, Professor of Ethnomusicology Lambros Liavas is curating and presenting at the Great Lawn a panorama of Greek traditional music and dance, in an open invitation for all to participate in the ritual of the traditional feast.

An incomparable pundit of the codes of Greek traditional music, boasting several studies, academic papers, and extensive travel throughout Greece, Lambros Liavas is calling on us to see off the three weeks of the Apokries in a time-honored authentic manner. Carnival mimic mixes together with kalamatiano, kagelia, and tsamiko; pogonisio from Epirus, syrto from Macedonia, zonaradiko from Thrace; hasapiko from Constantinople; karsilama from Smyrna; pentozali from Crete; and ballos from the islands.

The tone is set by traditional brass instruments played by the renowned Valkanis Brothers Brass Band from Florina, as well as by the dynamic musical group Eptasimo, featuring singers Ilias Gakos and Marianthi Lioudaki.

Also participating in the lineup are Pontic lyra player Ilias Yfantidis and Cretan lyra player Manolis Bountalakis with his band. The dance group of the Pontian Association Argonautai Komninoi (led by: Kostas Savvinidis) is inviting us to join in the dance circle!

Celebrate the arrival of spring amidst the timeless beauty of the Acropolis Museum as it joins forces with the Athens State Orchestra to present a captivating musical event in the Parthenon Gallery on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Embark on a journey through the evolution of musical expression with the esteemed Athens String Quartet as they bring to life two groundbreaking compositions that span almost a century, opening new horizons for their respective instruments.

The ethereal world of impressionism unfolds with Claude Debussy's enchanting string quartet in G minor, followed by a triumphant finale featuring Ludwig Van Beethoven's renowned string quartet no. 1 in F major.

The Athens String Quartet, comprising the talents of Apollon Grammatikopoulos (violin), Panagiotis Tziotis (violin), Angela Giannaki (viola), and Isidoros Sideris (cello), promises an evening of unparalleled musical brilliance.

To ensure your participation in this exclusive event, online booking is essential. Additionally, general admission tickets (priced at 10 euros) will be available for purchase from the Museum's cash desk on the day of the event, from 7:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., upon presentation of your reservation code at counters marked 6, 7, and 8. Please note that unclaimed tickets will be released to waiting visitors.

Kindly present your ticket to the Information Office upon arrival.

The evening's festivities commence with a brief tour of the museum's exhibition spaces led by a knowledgeable Museum Archaeologist at 7:30 p.m., followed by the enchanting musical performance at 8:30 p.m.

Founded in 2019, the Athens English Comedy Club is the first, and only, purely English comedy club in Greece - bringing you local and international comedians, right in the heart of Athens - and it just turned four!

Sunday, March 31st

• MC: Alex Titkov
• Headliner: Abigail Paul
• And: Jim Botsas, Lefteris Koulonis, Athina Kefalopoulos, Lina Thomopoulou, Pam Benjamin

It'll be a mix of everything. A potluck of comedy. Colourful, comedic, chaos! Experienced and new comedians trying out their best new jokes. Some of them will be good, some of them will be great, and some will never see the light of day again. It's up to you!

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of laughter, music, and thought-provoking comedy as British legend Bill Bailey returns to the Pallas Theater on April 8, 2024, with his latest show, "Thoughtifier."

Renowned for his trademark musical stylings and characteristic wit, Bailey promises audiences a night to remember with "Thoughtifier." Following rave reviews from critics and fans alike, including The Guardian's praise for "one zinging musical-comedy set piece after another," Bailey's new show is set to captivate and entertain audiences once again.

"Thoughtifier" introduces audiences to an intriguing device of the same name, capable of amplifying the thoughts of a curious mind through music. Serving as the human instrument behind the Thoughtifier, Bailey leads viewers on a magical, musical journey through the history of human thought. From the quirks of human nature to pressing matters about whales, biophilia, unrequited love, and beyond, Bailey's show is a celebration of our flawed humanity in an increasingly automated world.

At a time when it feels like humans may be rendered redundant by technology, Bailey's comedic genius shines as he explores the complexities of the human mind and celebrates the richness of human experience. With his unique blend of humor and musical talent, Bailey invites audiences to embrace their imperfections and join him on a jaunt through the error-strewn, distracted, and sometimes magnificent history of human thought.

 

The ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame is scheduled for April 16th at 11:30 am, set amidst the ancient grounds of Olympia. Approximately 500 torchbearers will embark on a 2,000-kilometer journey across Greece, culminating at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens on April 26th, the historic site of the inaugural modern Olympics in 1896.

Leading the relay from Olympia to Paris for the upcoming Games will be Greek Olympic rowing champion Stefanos Ntouskos. Concluding the journey will be members of the Greek men’s water polo team, who clinched silver in Tokyo.

Departing from Piraeus, the flame will travel to Marseilles aboard the esteemed three-masted sail training ship Belem, a revered historical monument. It is expected to arrive in France on May 8th, over two months before the commencement of the Paris Games on July 26th, where it will illuminate the Olympic flame.

The tradition of the Olympic torch relay traces back to 1936 when 3,000 bearers relayed it from Olympia to Berlin.

Note: The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 11:30 am, contingent upon the position of the sun. However, we recommend arriving at Ancient Olympia by 9:30 am to allow ample time for navigating through the crowds and securing a spot within the venue. Ancient Olympia is situated approximately 3,5 hours away by car from central Athens.

Theatre Of The No, the first English-speaking theatre in Athens, proudly announces its grand opening with Samuel Beckett’s timeless masterpiece, "Waiting for Godot" on April 18th. Directed by Nikos Dionysios with a brilliant international cast, this brave production brings new energy and innovation to the most important theatrical play of the 20th century.

"Waiting for Godot" is justifiably iconic, a masterpiece of modern existential theatre, that explores profound themes through the lens of two protagonists Estragon and Vladimir, who find themselves in a perpetual cycle of waiting the arrival of a mysterious figure. Two loners, who depend on each other by waiting for something that does not come, two others who are connected through the authority of the ruled and a child.

Beckett skilfully weaves together themes of loneliness, dependency, and the relentless pursuit of meaning in a world devoid of certainty. Through layers of symbolism and multi-dimensional writing, the writer challenges audiences to confront the enigma of existence and grapple with the fundamental question, "Who am I ?"

"Is it a drama? Maybe a comedy? Nothing? Perhaps this classic play, defies easy categorization and reflects the artistic team behind Theatre of the No who seeks to explore the multi-layered complexities of Beckett's narrative.

Yoel Wulfhart, founder of the theatre, writes: “With its exciting inaugural production, Theatre of the No aims to establish itself as a hub for artistic innovation and cultural exchange, fostering dialogue and collaboration within the vibrant community of Athens. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, our theatre seeks to create transformative experiences that resonate with audiences long after the curtain falls."

Performances: Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday at 20.30

About the Theatre Of The No

The Theatre of the NO is a brand new English-speaking theatre opening on April 2024 in the centre of Athens. We embrace diversity and creativity, welcoming new writers and creators from Greece and around the world to share their voices on our stage.

From thought-provoking dramas to avant-garde experiments, our programming will encompass a wide range of genres and styles, including Modernist, Absurdist, and Experimental Theatre, Music, Poetry and Performance Art.

CAST

Director: Nikos Dionysios
Assistant Director: Fivi Fildissi
Vladimir: David Gilliam
Estragon: Vassia Vassiliou
Pozzo: George Housakos
Lucky: Anastasia Booyaca
Child: Sebastian Puentes
Sets and Costumes: Bianca Nikolareizi
Sets and Costumes Αssistant: Iris Emilsntotir
Lighting Designer: Fernanda Balcells
Production Assistant: David Rawstron
Photographer: Nikos Pagonakis
Social Media: Petra Tseliou
Communications & Publicity: Eleftheria Sakareli
Executive Producer: Yoel Wulfhart - Fail Better Productions

The exhibition «Sinthome» curated by Helen Mesadou opens on Friday, April 19, in the frame of The Athenian Way/Athens Intersection coordinated by Georg Georgakopoulos and APART Art Research & Applications, in collaboration with the Friends of Trigono Athens F.O.T.A. and CHEAPART.

Sinthome highlights the diversity and contrast found in the world of art through a dialogue between different expressions and aesthetics. The title illuminates the concept of synthesis as a cohesion of opposites and mergers, offering an intriguing and multi-dimensional world that invites the viewer to explore the boundaries of contrast. Through the lens of photography and the materiality of sculpture, the bright and the dark, the positive and the negative, are revealed, creating a world that reflects the complexity and beauty of the human experience.

Sinthome is a Lacanian neologism associated with the symptom, the synthetic-artificial man, the saint, Saint Thomas. sinthome can also be read as synth-home in the sense of an artificial construction of oneself. Sinthome is a combination of language and pleasure, a symbol imbued with pleasure, much like a compulsive tic.

"The symptom must be defined as something that is signaled as knowledge already there in a subject who knows that it concerns him but does not know what it is" Jacques Lacan, séminaire XII, Problèmes cruciaux pour la psychoanalyse, séance du 5 Mai 1965, inédit.

17 artists invite you to discover this multi-dimensional exhibition and immerse yourself in the world of contrasts and synthesis through the eyes of the artists who created these works.

Curated by: Helen Mesadou

Artists: Chrysalena Antonopoulou, Agapi Chrysochou, Nefeli Chyntiraki, Eugenia Efstathiou, Myrto Grigoriou, Niki Iliopoulou, Alexandros Kontogeorgakopoulos / George Kontos / Odysseas Klissouras, Vasiliki Kousteni, Marilena Kranioti, Daphne Mamouri, Nikos Nikopoulos, Natassa Pantazopoulou, Niove Sfiri, George Skouloudis, Nikos Venetopoulos.

Performances:

20.4 / 19:00 Angeliki Manta
21.4 / 19:00 Apostolis Filippou, «Soundlandscapes»
27.4 / 19:00 Athanasia Tsopanargia «Bruise»
28.4 / 19:00 Maria Zourou «Trans.Human.in decomposition II»

The Athenian way

Drawing from the red and black-figure vases as a typical commercial product of classical Athens and earlier, the visual elements of positive and negative transcend time and enter into the present day. Two facets of Athens' identity—the positive and the negative—are viewed from different perspectives. The city's inhabitants tend to magnify the faults with an almost dramatic quality that is oblivious to their benefits. Positive developments do not impress us; the negatives catch us off guard. Two exhibitions explore this phenomenon, as the artists define in form, and the impact it has on our daily lives: our surrounding environment is shaped by our interpretations of it.

The official handover ceremony of the Olympic flame for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be held at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens and is open to the public on Friday, April 26th, at 6:30 pm.

The Olympic flame will be ignited for the first time at Ancient Olympia on April 16th, within the ancient Temple of Hera. Here, around 30 priestesses, known as 'Caryatids Kores', will conduct a series of rituals invoking the mythical god Apollo to kindle the flame.

Embarking on a journey spanning over 2,000 kilometers through Greece, the Olympic torch relay will be undertaken by approximately 500 torchbearers, culminating its route at the Acropolis before its arrival at the Panathenaic Stadium the following day.

The ceremony, which will also be broadcast live worldwide on the official Olympic Games website, is a significant event for visitors to Athens. To fully experience the spectacle, it's recommended to arrive well in advance of the 6:30 pm starting time (we suggest arriving at or before 5:00 pm). Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

The ceremony will feature notable elements such as the Greek Presidential Guard, the City of Athens Marching Band, and a performance by the 30 Caryatids before the flame is handed over to the Paris Olympic Committee.

Get ready for a triumphant return as Bolivar Beach Bar reopens its doors in style on Saturday, April 27th, with special guests Italian DJs/Producers Fideles.

This dynamic duo, known for their melodic techno sound and atmospheric vibes, are set to ignite the start of an explosive season. With releases on renowned labels like Afterlife, Innervisions, and their own label Impressum, Fideles bring a powerhouse performance that promises to take you on exhilarating musical journeys on the dance floor.

Joining them is none other than Nick Devon, one of Greece's most recognizable DJs/producers, along with Bolivar's resident DJs Steph b2b Rezo.