The Athens Epidaurus Festival marks its 70th anniversary with the launch of a riveting new artistic video titled “Art is our Language.”
Set against the backdrop of the Festival’s five iconic venues—the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Peiraios 260, the Little Theatre of Epidaurus, and the City of Athens Lycabettus Theatre—and with “Art is our Language” as its resounding motto, the video brings together a distinguished ensemble of artists from the realms of Theatre, Music, and Dance. Each has participated in recent editions of the Festival and now joins in a stirring recitation of Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s poem Ode, translated into Greek by Giorgos Koropoulis. It is a tribute to art, a homage to the Festival’s seven decades of enduring presence and ceaseless contribution to Greece’s cultural legacy, as well as a declaration of faith in the future to come.
Ode (We are the music makers)—the most celebrated work by the English poet Arthur O’Shaughnessy—is a passionate hymn to the eruptive power of art that has served as a touchstone for legions of idealists and dreamers from the moment it first saw the light of day in 1873. The poem addresses and explores the transformative capacities of creativity in a manner that continues to resonate in our times, perhaps more urgently than ever, as the role of art and imagination in shaping the world becomes increasingly vital.
The video, directed by Yiannis Vakrinos and featuring an original music composition by Renos Papastavros, stars Reni Pittaki, Giorgos Gallos, Filareti Komninou, Idra Kayne, and Dimitris Kapouranis. They are joined by Georgios Vassilopoulos, Konstantinos Georgalis, Nikos Gonidis, Christos Diamantoudis, Anastasia-Rafaela Konidi, Iraklis Kostakis, Alexandros Piechowiak, Marios Chatziantoni, and Nikolas Chatzivasiliadis. The production was brought to life by Foss Productions.
In Ode, artists become world-shapers and torchbearers who bequeath the song of the future, stating out loud and clear that art is a force that moulds history.
We are the music makers
And we are the dreamers of dreams
Wandering by lone sea-breakers
And sitting by desolate streams
World-losers and world-forsakers
On whom the pale moon gleams
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever, it seems.
Great hail! we cry to the comers
From the dazzling unknown shore
Bring us hither your sun and your summers
Αnd renew our world as of yore.
Rest upon these immaculate verses that echo through the Festival’s historic venues, this summer’s rich and multifaceted programme promises unforgettable moments of emotion and inspiration—both in Athens and Epidaurus.
Production Company: Foss Productions
Executive Producer: Stelios Cotionis
Producer: Graziella Kanellou
Director: Yiannis Vakrinos
Creative Director: Dimitris Michailidis
Copywriter: Naya Kostiani
Director of Photography: George Kokkalis
Production Manager: Ilias Sarantakis
Sound Engineer: Alexandros Sakellariou
Camera: George Efstratiadis
Drone operators: Alexandros Nomikos, Sotiris Stiliadis / FlyWhoop
Original music composition: Renos Papastavros / Musou
Poem translation and editing: George Koropoulis
Editor: Yiannis Vakrinos
Art Director: Anninos Irodotou
Post Production House: Foss Productions
Post Production Supervisor: Dimitris Sionis
Colorist: Marilena Vogiatzi
Sound Design: Giannis Isaakidis
Styling: Konstantina Mardiki
Make up: Elina Mavraki, Gianna Marmataki
Hair styling: Maria Lekka
Production team: Ioannis Voulalas, Dimitris Christodoulopoulos
Camera assistant: Nikos Thomas, Nikos Pilarinos
Styling assistant: Stevi Pachi
Ogilvy Business Unit Director: Sofia Xanthopoulou
Ogilvy Account Manager: Eleni Drakaki
