Music, dance, opera and shadow theater make up the festive landscape of this year’s Christmas in Athens Concert Hallwelcoming the holidays with exciting productions for the whole family.

Among them we find two enchanting ballets, the “Tosodoula” (16-30/12/2023) and “Giselle” (18-28/12/2023) by the Ballet of the National Opera of Odessa, the new performance by Ilias Karellas “Karagiozi’s Christmas in New York” (22-30/12/2023, 4 & 5/1/2024), the established church organ concert of Urania Gassiou which this year collaborates with the Ventus Ensemble (23/12/2023), the masterpiece oratorio “The Messiah” by Handel from the Camerata-Orchestra of the Friends of Music conducted by Giorgos Petrou (27/12/2023) and the “Revival in Paris”the New Year’s gala of the State Orchestra of Athens (30/12/2023), with Myron Michailides and lyric singers Alexia Voulgaridou, Lucretsia Venturiello and Antoni Koronaio performing excerpts from the finest works of the French repertoire.

The events in detail:

This December, the Ballet of the National Opera of Odessa travels to Athens and presents in the Alexandra Trianti Hall two wonderful productions for the whole family: the most popular fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen “The Tosodoula”which transforms into a magical dance extravaganza (16-30/12/2023), and the “Giselle”with the dreamy music of Adolf Adam (18-28/12/2023), one of the most beloved works of classical dance (Co-production: CHT-Megaro Musiki Athens).

Ilias Karellas and his troupe have prepared a new production again this year, “Karagiozi’s Christmas in New York”, to welcome their young and old friends to the festive Megaros (22-30/12/2023, 4 & 5/1/2024). In this crazy, musical shadow adventure, which is full of humor and action, Karagiozis and his company arrive for the holidays in the American big city, invited by his rich Greek-American sister Barba-Giorgos. Musical companion of Karagiozis, the charming singer and actress Indra Kane. In the role of the aunt from America, Maria Eleftheriadis. The musicians play live: Dimitris Schizas (guitar), Giorgos Kourelis (keyboards), Giorgos Pouliasis (drums), Markos Greenover (bass). The direction, the text, the scenography and the lighting are signed by Ilias Karellas, and the choreography is by Antigoni Gyra (Co-production: Thiasos H. Karellas-Athens Concert Hall).

The Megaros musical proposals for this year’s Christmas focus on both religious and secular compositions. On 23/12/2023, the organist of the Megaros, Ourania Gassiou, makes an appointment with the brass ensemble Ventus Ensemble and collaborates with him in the presentation of Christmas melodies from all over the world and classical masterpieces. The musicians participating are: Dimitris Gogas and Fanis Vernikos (trumpet), Yiannis Gounaris (horn), Spyros Vergis (trombone), Menelaos Moraitis (tumba), Marios Mouzakitis (percussion).

Award-winning performers of many orchestral and lyrical works by Georg Friedrich Heindel, the members of the Friends of Music Chamber Orchestra and the internationally renowned chief musician Giorgos Petrou turn their attention to the great oratorio of the great Baroque composer, “Messiah” (27/12 /2023) with its unsurpassedly beautiful choral parts (with Greek supertitles). Conductor and musicians join forces with four acclaimed soloists: soprano Myrsini Margariti, mezzo-soprano Teresa Iervolino, tenor Juan Sancho and bass Christoforos Stambogli. The Athens Chamber Choir takes part (musical instruction: Agathangelos Georgakatos).

The musical events of Christmas culminate with the beloved New Year’s concert (30/12/2023) of the State Orchestra of Athens, Orchestra in Residence of the Palace, which this year invites us to a brilliant “Revival in Paris”. Under the guidance of the acclaimed chief musician Myron Michaelides, four renowned lyric performers, soprano Alexia Voulgaridou, mezzo-soprano Lucretsia Venturiello and tenor Antonis Koronaios, choose arias and passages from the most beautiful French operas and take us on a journey with their voices to the charming – and always melody – City of Light (Co-production: State Orchestra of Athens – Athens Concert Hall).

Festive music in the foyer of the Mansion… And a bright ice rink!

In addition to the Christmas events in its halls, the Megaro will host in its foyer concerts with holiday tunes that will present to the public up-and-coming groups from conservatories and music schools of Attica (free admission).

Also, this winter, the Megaro hosts in the Atrium of the Muses, for one more year, a fully organized ice rink for the entertainment and sports of its young and old friends. The ice rink of 375 sq.m. it is covered by a special canopy so that visitors can skate in all weather conditions. In the area next to the ice rink, parents and companions will have the opportunity to watch the skaters while enjoying a drink, a drink or a snack in a warm environment. More information: www.icearena.gr.

The pre-sale for the Christmas events of the Mansion has started. Information: http://www.megaron.gr.