Press Release: November 10, 2008
The
Hellenic Society Prometheas
presented
Panayoti Karousos’ Prometheus.
On Saturday,
November 8, at the Grand Hall of St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church of
Bethesda, Maryland, the Hellenic Society Prometheas, the cultural society of
the Washington Metropolitan Area, organized a very unique musical event.
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, it staged the
neo-classical opera Prometheus, by
the Greek-Canadian composer Panayoti Karousos, with the participation of a host
of soloists and a large orchestra under the direction of conductor Grant
Gilman. The opera is based on Aeschylus’ tragedy: Prometheus Bound.
Father Dimitrios, Father
George of the St. George church and Greek Embassy officials were joined by an
audience of 230 people who arrived at the Presvytera Maria Grand Hall to enjoy
Karousos’ music and relive the myth of Prometheus,
who was punished by Zeus for giving fire to mankind against His will.
The District of Columbia Symphony
Orchestra performed beautifully and flawlessly and the accomplished soloists,
all first class professionals, interpreted skillfully and with vigor all parts of
Karousos’ work. The critics categorize the opera as a modern post-romantic work
and praise it for its melodic and harmonic power.
The performance was very
well organized and made an impression on the participants as an exceptional and
high quality cultural event. Mr. Lefteris Karmiris, the president of
Prometheas, welcomed the audience and Dr. Polyvia Parara, of the Department of
Classics at
The proceeds of the event will
benefit the St. George Building Fund and the new St. Katherine’s Paideia
preschool program.
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