Athens: cultural events in April

The coronavirus restrictions that are pretty annoying to everyone are ending, and until new ones begin, cultural figures in Greece and other countries are in a hurry to show their works and performances to the audience.

Martha Graham Company | Athens | April 15-17

Martha Graham’s legendary dance troupe returns to Greece with a double program: “Αcts of Light”, Graham’s simplified 1981 eulogy of the dancer as a tool of self-expression, and the European premiere of a reimagined version of “A Song for Innocent Comedians”, hailed as an ode to nature.

The dance ensemble will perform at the Athens Concert Hall, ticket prices vary from 24 to 55 euros.

Nikos Engonopoulos | Athens | until April 30

The Kolonaki branch of the Ikastikos Kiklos DL gallery presents a selection of eight original and 22 numbered copies of works by Nikos Engonopoulos (1907–1985), one of the country’s most influential artists of the 1930s generation and a prominent proponent of the Surrealist movement.

The eight original pieces include Engonopoulos’s costume designs for the 1959 production of Euripides’ opera Ion for the theater company of Thymelikos Thiasos, as well as replicas of iconic pieces the artist drew to represent Greece at the 1954 Venice Biennale.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 11:00 to 20:00, Wednesday and Saturday from 11:00 to 16:00.

Ikastikos Kiklos DL, 6 Academias, Kolonaki, tel. 210.364.6818, ikastikoskiklos.com

Faust | Athens | until April 22

The Greek national opera production of Charles Gounod’s five-act grand opera Faust enters the stage in the Stavros Niarchos Hall for eight performances directed by Renato Zanella, set in an empty lecture hall.

The cast includes famous Greek and foreign soloists Ivan Magri, Giannis Christopoulos, Irina Lungu, Vasiliki Karayianni, Yanni Giannisis, Tassos Apostolou and Petros Magoulas. Conducted by Pierre Dumusso.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit nationalopera.gr.

Hall of Stavros Niarchos, 364 Syngrou, Kallithea, tel. 213.088.5700

Stefanos Rokos | Athens | April 7 – May 7

In The Two Temples, flamboyant contemporary Greek artist Stefanos Rokos presents a series of works inspired by a trip to Japan and the country’s mythology and religious practices, made shortly before the outbreak of the pandemic. The exhibition at the Zumbulakis Gallery branch on Kolonaki Square consists of mixed media paintings on paper or canvas, two woodcuts, an animated film and a book.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:00 to 20:00, Monday and Wednesday from 10:00 to 15:00, Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00.

Zumbulakis Gallery, 20 Kolonaki Square, tel. 210.360.8278

Nikos Engonopoulos | Athens | until June 19

“The Orpheus of Surrealism” is a tribute to the famous surrealist painter Nikos Engonopoulos (1907-1985) of the B&M Theocharakis Foundation. Curated by Takis Mavrotas. The career-spanning show immerses the viewer in Engonopoulos’ whimsical and captivating universe of imaginary characters drawn from mythology and literature, history and poetry. Admission is free, pre-registration required.

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