Eden in Olympia premiered successfully on Saturday, January 11, at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall. Through the innovative musical narrative of the cinematic adaptation of the musical Eden, featuring opera star Joyce DiDonato, the enthusiastic audience embarked on a unique journey of environmental awareness and call to action for life on our planet.
The screening culminated with a live performance of the anthem of Eden, “Seeds of Hope,” performed by the Children’s Choir of the Greek National Opera and the intercultural children’s choir El Sistema Greece, under the direction of Konstantina Pitsiakou, director of the Children’s Choir of the Greek National Opera. This performance conveyed a powerful message of unity, collaboration, and global action. Young performers, as agents of change, distributed seeds to the audience—symbols of hope and care for our planet—reminding everyone that every seed represents a promise of life.
Alexandra Mitsotaki, President of the World Human Forum and the inspiration behind the film’s production, emphasized, said “As we helplessly watch the second-largest city of the U.S. superpower burn, it is hard to remain optimistic. But hope needs us. As Václav Havel said, hope is certainly not the same as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will end well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it ends.”
The President of the Megaron Athens Concert Hall Board, Mr. Nikos Pimplis, warmly welcomed the premiere of the cinematic adaptation of the performance that had originally been presented live in the Christos Lambrakis Hall on May 30, 2023. That live performance captivated the audience, not only with its impeccable musical execution in collaboration with the world-renowned baroque orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro, but also with its profound messages, particularly aimed at children who hold humanity’s future in their hands.
Furthermore, during her previous visit, Joyce DiDonato, in collaboration with the Megaron Athens Concert Hall team, visited the migrant hospitality center in Schisto and taught children the song “Seeds of Hope,” combined with activities promoting environmental awareness. This visit underscored the continuing partnership between the two organizations, which will extend into the future with new projects.
The journey of Eden in Olympia continues, with events scheduled in major cities in Greece and abroad, including Venice, Paris, and New York. The film has also been broadcast on significant television channels and platforms worldwide, such as the leading European cultural channel ARTE, Carnegie Hall+, and Greece’s public broadcaster ERT.
The film “Eden in Olympia” is an initiative of the World Human Forum, co-produced with the Athens Concert Hall, UNITEL, and ZDF, and in collaboration with ARTE and ERT.
Together with the musical ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, French director Olivier Simonnet, and three children’s vocal groups—the Children’s Choir of the Greek National Opera, the Chœurs ECLATS choir from France, and the intercultural El Sistema Greece—Joyce DiDonato presents a landmark project that speaks to the heart of humanity at precisely the right moment.
(The rights to the monuments depicted belong to the Greek State and the Ministry of Culture, according to Law 4858/2021.)
Photo Credits: Harry Akriviadis
