Christmas in Athens: Fifteen proposals for festive shows for the whole family

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Classic Christmas stories, award-winning musicals, famous ballets, musical theater performances with favorite artists and creative workshops are just some of the events that take place in festive Athens until and after the New Year.

The multitude of cultural events that Athens offers these days promises to give unique moments to young and old, for those who stay in the city during the holidays. The Athens-Macedonian News Agency presents a selection of holiday shows, including classic Christmas stories, award-winning musicals, famous ballets, musical theater performances with favorite artists and creative workshops, which will be staged on some of the city’s biggest stages and neighborhoods until and after New year.

“Scrooge, a Christmas Story” at Megaro

One of the world’s most beloved Christmas novels for young and old alike, Charles Dickens’ Scrooge is transformed into a rock musical extravaganza with Panos Mouzourakis in the title role (through 8/1). Here Scrooge is a worn-out, decadent and awkward music star, who on Christmas Eve is visited by the ghosts of dead world music stars who want to warn him that if he doesn’t change his attitude towards his fellow men, he will soon be gone. and he goes down in history as yet another dead star. The arrangement and direction is by Christos Sougaris, the original music by Stefanos Korkolis and the lyrics by Gerasimos Evaggelatos. It features a large troupe of actors and singers in surprise roles.

“The Suitcase of Urania Celeste” at the SNFCC Lighthouse

The multi-award winning writer Vangelis Hatzigiannidis is writing his new play, especially for SNFCC’s “Christmas Stories” – a funny (and a bit scary) story for children and the whole family, as he says – and Sofia Vgenopoulou takes on the directing. Just before Christmas, the famous writer Urania Celeste (played by Elena Topalidou) arrives from Paris to stay at her beloved nephew’s house. Her and her huge suitcase. Family life is disrupted. So much will change in a few days. And the big question remains: what is he finally carrying in that mysterious suitcase? (until 6/1).

“The Melody of Happiness” at the Athens College Theatre

One of the most beloved musicals of all time is brought to the stage on Christmas day by Themida Marcellou, who directs and translates the work into Greek. Nadia Kontogeorgi plays the role of the cheerful and music-loving governess, who brings music, song and joy to the house of the strict master, husband and father G. Von Trapp, played by Leonidas Kakouris. They are joined by an elite troupe of protagonists, choir and live orchestra (until 22/1).

“Karagiozi’s Christmas in Paris” at Megaro

This Christmas, well-known figure skater Ilias Karellas takes Karagiozis to Paris in a brand new vegan, holiday comedy full of humor and action, with the hero of Greek folk tradition dancing from butcher serbian to waltz (until 7/1). In this new production, Karagiozis and his company will try to solve the mystery of the missing turkeys. With them, the musicians: Theodora Athanasiou (guitar), Loukas Metaxas (percussion set), Glaukos Smarianakis (violin), Haris Tsalpara (accordion) and Kostas Tsarouhis (double bass).

“Nutcracker at the Christmas Theater

The quintessential Christmas ballet with the iconic music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky to a libretto by Marius Petipa is presented by the famous Kyiv Classical Dance Ensemble. After their appearances in Chicago and New York, they come to Athens for only three shows, on December 25 and 26. The story takes place in a little girl’s dream, where toys come to life and soldier dolls led by the Nutcracker fight an army of mice, in a ballet that has always captivated audiences of all ages.

Musical fairy tales at the Municipal Theater of Piraeus

The classic play “Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev, together with musical Christmas tales and carols, will flood the main stage of the Piraeus Municipal Theater (December 26, 27, 29 and 30). The actors Dimitris Lalos and Marilita Lampropoulou take on the role of narrators, while the classical melodies will be performed by the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Zois Zeniodis.

“The Twelve Days Of Christmas” at the Olympia Municipal Theatre

Just before the arrival of the new year, the Choir of the Municipality of Athens presents on December 27 a rich festive program with songs and hymns from all over the world, composed by Michalis Adamis, Benjamin Britten, Franz Gruber, George Frideric Handel, William Mathias, John Rutter, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, César Franck, Adolphe Adam, Jester Hairston, Johann Sebastian Bach and Bob Chilcott. Stavros Beris leads the Athenian choral ensemble, soprano Myrsini Margariti and pianist Thanos Margetis in the program entitled “The Twelve Days Of Christmas”.

Christmas with a view of the Acropolis

Christmas carols, evening walks in the exhibition spaces, hidden stories about the exhibits, educational programs, unique creations in the store, festive dishes in the restaurant but also interactive games with .. goblins aspire to give special moments to young and old at the Acropolis Museum. In its festive program we meet the female vocal ensemble Chóres that will present traditional carols and well-known songs from the Greek and international repertoire, under the musical direction of Simela Emmanuilidou (28/12). To close the year, the Museum will host the Episcopal Club of Naoussa, Imathia Prefecture with traditional carols and Pontic dances (12/30).

The SNFCC wears its holiday clothes

For one more year, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center wears its holiday clothes and presents a rich program aimed at all ages. The Skating Rink in Kanali, the Lighting Installations in Stavros Niarchos Park, the Dancing Fountains, the 360° Christmas Pop-Up Bar on the Veranda of the Lighthouse, a series of musical events as well as games and workshops for the whole family are just a few of the experiences that have now become tradition for thousands of visitors. On New Year’s Eve, the SNFCC’s “Christmas World” reaches the height of its brilliance with spectacular fireworks, a concert by Jerome Kaluta with his Big Band, a DJ set with the Italian Beppe Loda and, of course, the first road race of the year, the “SNF RUN: 2023 FIRST RUN” . During the festive period, a concert-tribute to David Bowie by the Heroes tribute band will close the Agora (08/01).

Festive events in the Areos Field

As every year, the Region of Attica organizes a rich program of events in the Field of Areos, where young and old will have the opportunity to live unique festive experiences, with free entry until January 5th. With the central slogan “Happiness PARKS here”, the park hosts, among others, musical programs with Kostas Martakis, Vanessa Adamopoulou and Zoe Papadopoulou, as well as theater performances, dance classes, creative workshops and impressive interactive games with soap bubbles, while there there is also everyone’s favorite Santa Claus who will be handing out gifts.

Interactive experiences in Elliniko

The Ellinikon Experience Park welcomed the holidays with an impressive illumination and until 8/1 invites the public to discover its hidden Christmas surprises. The festive tour starts at the Hill of Lights, a spectacular lighting installation where one can discover festive messages, and continues in the Garden of Reflections, with a game of mirrors. Those who find themselves in Square B will walk through the largest interactive projection mapping in Greece, and discover how their steps change the designs of the Magic Christmas Carpet. In the Christmas Hub next to the fountain, young and old can test their creativity and make original Christmas structures with sustainable materials to give to their loved ones.

The Christmas Factory in Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens

This holiday season, the Christmas Factory returns richer and brighter, giving young and old the opportunity to attend, among other things, jazz concerts and theater performances, try their luck at the ice rink, take part in special workshops – from a ghostly maze to creative activities confectionery, face painting and choreography by the elves, but also to visit its Christmas market where they can taste festive delicacies and mulled wine and get ideas for this year’s gifts.

An original Christmas Market in Omonia square

One of the most well-known landmarks of Athens, the historic Omonia square, re-enters the city’s Christmas map and welcomes young and old alike to a special Christmas Market. As part of the Christmas events, the Municipality of Athens invites the public until January 1, in a highly festive and bright environment, every day from 11:00 am. until late at night offering delicious treats, selected gifts, music and plenty of fun through a series of special events.

New Year’s gala with the State Orchestra of Athens

The new year’s gala of the KOA, Orchestra in Residence of the Athens Concert Hall, returns on December 29th and 30th to the Christos Lambrakis Hall, having as its theme this year, the musical. In the program of both concerts, we will hear melodies that left an era in New York’s Broadway and London’s West End, performed by selected Greek artists: soprano Myrsini Margariti, mezzo-soprano Nadia Kontogeorgis, tenor Yiannis Kalyvas and bass Giorgos Papadimitriou. On the podium, Michalis Economou.

Change of time in the Constitution

Athens will welcome the new year, again in the heart of the city, in Syntagma Square with a big New Year’s celebration organized by the Municipality of Athens. The protagonists of the evening are Marios Fragoulis and Giorgos Perris, who will celebrate the change of time with a special musical program that they created especially for this year’s festivities. In the evening, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Municipality of Athens will open with classic Christmas pieces. Immediately after welcoming 2023, in Syntagma Square, the musical baton will be taken over by the high energy dance cover band of Bejeezus, while a little later, the celebration will move to the Varvakeio Agora, where popular DJs will set up a big party that will last until early morning hours.

RES-EMP

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