In this year’s concerts at the Athens Concert Hall for Holy Week, the human voice has the first say, as it is expressed through the centuries-old mourning tradition of the Greek people but also through insurmountable masterpieces of Western religious music.

On Holy Monday, April 10, in the musical performance “The Dirge of the Myrrh,”, Greek virtuosos focus on the rhyming municipal speech and the mournful chant.

On Holy Wednesday, April 12, Christos Lambrakis Hall is flooded with the evocative melodies of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Missa solemnis” [“official liturgy,”  which indelibly sealed the world history of music; a landmark work of ecclesiastical workmanship that glorifies God while praising man at the same time.

The dirge, the myrrh

Holy Monday, April 10, 20:30, Christos Lambrakis Hall

The first evening of Adagio is devoted to dirge. A select group of contributors will present, curated by Giorgos Kotsinis (artistic direction, research, and production execution), the evolution from the mournful sigh to women’s lamentations for the dead and the developed and independent form of improvised music. A concert that reflects a message of optimism about life, mental strength, and the value of tradition

They sing: Kostas Tzimas, Vasilis Serbezis, Giorgos Giannitsis, Panagiotis Angelakopoulos, Giorgos Skordalos, Anestis Ioakimidis, and the polyphonic band Epirus “Isokratissas”.

Special participation: Pantelis Thalassinos, Katerina Papadopoulou, and the Protopsaltis Grigoris Daravanoglou

Special guest: Christopher C. King

Dance: the Union of Iliou Epirotes, the Association “Greek Tradition” (curated by Efthymia Routi and Vasilis Tsounis), the Argonauts Komninoi (curated by Kostas Savvinidis), the Kouretes (curated by Manolis and George Pattakos), as well as Apostolis and Alexis Tasioulis

Participating musicians: Giorgos Kotsinis (clarinet, artistic direction), Kostas Karapanos (violin), Thomas Konstantinou (oud, lute), Stefanos Dorbarakis (kanonaki), Stratis Psaradellis (political lyre, political lute), Nikolas Angelopoulos (lute), Manousos Klapakis (percussion), Yiannis Plagiannakos (double bass), Anestis Joakimidis (Pontus lyre), Paris Perissinakis (Cretan lyre), Paris Perissinakis (Cretan lyre) and

Narration: Dimitra Stogianni

Sound design: George Karyotis

Lighting design, visual projections: Maria Athanasopoulou, Stratos Toganidis

Directed by: Kostas Charalambous

L.V. Beethoven: Missa solemnis

With Greek subtitles

Holy Wednesday, April 12, 20:30, Christos Lambrakis Hall

Co-production: Athens State Orchestra, Athens Concert Hall

Ludwig van Beethoven’s masterpiece of the mature period, Missa solemnis in D major, Op. 123, is presented at this year’s Easter concert at Christos Lambrakis Hall by the Athens State Orchestra, Orchestra in Residence of the Megaron. The magnificent composition of the great composer, which is considered by many to be the highest symphonic work of all time, is inspired by unfeigned faith in God and man, as well as by humanistic ideals.

The vocal parts are performed by the lyric singers: Karen Leiber (high-pitched), Ingeborg Danz (mezzo), Jenish Ysmanov (tenor), and Peter Magoulas (deep-pitched).

At the podium, the German conductor Christoph Poppen

The choirs of ERT and the municipality of Athens also take part.

Before the start of the concert is scheduled (19:30), ticket holders will hear a free introductory speech by students of the Music Studies Department of NKUA.