This production of Luigi Cherubini’s Medea to be staged at the Epidaurus Ancient Theatre is the climax of the Tribute to Maria Callas organised by the Hellenic Festival to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the death of “La Divina”. The role of Medea remained in Callas’ repertoire for nine years, and she sang the part 31 times.
It was at this very venue, in 1961, that Callas enjoyed her final, triumphant Greek appearance, performing the title role in the renowned production of Medea directed by Alexis Minotis and with sets and costumes by Yannis Tsarouchis, a production taken to La Scala the following year.
Medea is to be played at this year's Epidaurus Festival by the Italian soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci under the direction of the renowned Greek Yannis Kokkos, who triumphed with the same work in France.
With Greek surtitles
An opera three acts
Libretto François-Benoît Hoffmann (based on the ancient tragedy by Euripides)
Italian version Carlo Zangarini
Premier: Théâtre Feydeau, Paris, 13/3/1797
(Medea: JULIE-ANGELIQUE SCIO; Jason: PIERRE GAVEAUX).
Original version: 1797. The original recitatives were set to music by Franz Lachner (1854) and Luigi Arditi (1865).
Conducted by
Lukas Karytinos
Direction - Set and costume design
Yannis Kokkos
Artistic collaboration
Anne Blancard
Lighting design
Patrice Trottier
Assistant director
Giulio Ciabatti
Assistant Set Designer
Aurélien Leriche
Assistant costume designer
Monique Bertrand
Répétiteur
Dimitris Yakas
Assistant director - Stage manager
Akis Gourzoulidis
ERT Choir
Choir Master
Dimitris Bouzanis
Orchestra
Cappella Coloniensis, on period instruments
Cast
Medea: Anna Caterina Antonacci
Jason: Jon Ketilsson
Glauce: Anna Maria dell’ Oste
Creon: Enzo Capuano
Neris: Enkelejda Shkosa
First Handmaiden: Irini Kyriakidou
Second Handmaiden: Mina Polychronou
Captain of the Guard: Dimitris Kassioumis
With
NURSE Stella Papadimitriou
WOMEN Georgia Angonsilio, Eva Kechagia, Aggeliki Marinou, Melani Marchaine, Anastasia Papatheodorou, Sophia Pintzou, Dora Sampsona, Eugenia Sigalou, Marina Symeou, Eustathia Tsaroucha
MEN (Argonauts) Vasilis Giakoumaros, Alexandros Zachareas, Alexis Zervanos, Konstantinos Karadimas, Giorgos Kopsidas, Manos Sofoulakis, Konstantinos Tserkakis (Guards) Antonis Antonakos, Ignatios Axis, Stefanos Kakavoulis, Dimitris Moschonas, Panagiotis Soulis, Ioannis Trimmis, Solon Tsounis, Giorgos Papapavlou
CHILDREN Panagiotis Bezas, Savvas Salipas
€50 (Prime Circle); €40 (A’); €30 (Β’); €15 (Upper Tier); €10 (Concessions)