One of the world’s leading opera singers, Joyce DiDonato, returns to the Athens Concert Hall for the official world premiere of the concert-film “Eden in Olympia” (duration: 59 minutes), which will be screened on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 20:00 in the Alexandra Trianti Hall. Admission is free for the public with electronic priority tickets, available starting December 18 at the official page of Athens Concert Hall.
The film is an impressive cinematic adaptation of DiDonato’s “Eden” project, through which the renowned mezzo-soprano toured the world’s most prestigious concert halls, exploring the grandeur, power, and mystery of nature through stirring musical and theatrical themes. The celebrated artist guides the audience on an emotional journey, aiming to reconnect viewers with the strength and fragility of nature and to reflect on humanity’s place within our wondrous kaleidoscopic world.
Accompanied by the ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro, French director Olivier Simonnet, and three children’s choirs — the Children’s Choir of the Greek National Opera, Chœurs ECLATS from France, and the intercultural El Sistema Greece — Joyce DiDonato offers the audience a landmark project that speaks directly to the heart, arriving at precisely the right moment.
The “Eden” project was previously presented live in Greece at the Athens Concert Hall in 2023, to the delight of audiences and critics alike. DiDonato’s concert was also marked by her visit to the refugee facility in Schisto.
The creation of the film “Eden in Olympia”, shot entirely in the historic and uniquely beautiful setting of Ancient Olympia in April 2024, has three main goals:
- To serve as a powerful call for the protection of biodiversity and a re-evaluation of humanity’s relationship with nature.
- To make classical music and opera accessible to all, breaking down barriers and prejudices. The film seeks to bring classical music and opera closer to a wider audience by opening new pathways to these art forms. It is aimed at people who may not be familiar with concert halls or this particular form of artistic expression, offering them the chance to experience the magic of music through the big screen.
- To provide a unique opportunity for viewers around the world to move beyond the experience of a typical visitor, discovering and experiencing Ancient Olympia in an unprecedented and immersive way. The film highlights the historical and cultural heritage of the site, allowing participants to feel the magic and grandeur of ancient Greece like never before.
The screening of “Eden in Olympia” at the Athens Concert Hall will conclude with a live performance of the Eden anthem, “Seeds of Hope”, by the Children’s Choir of the Greek National Opera and El Sistema Greece, delivering a powerful message of unity, collaboration, and global action.
The official world premiere at the Athens Concert Hall follows the symbolic first screening in Ancient Olympia and marks the start of a series of events that will take place in major cities in Greece and abroad, including New York and Paris. The film has also been featured on prominent television channels and platforms worldwide, such as the leading European cultural channel ARTE, the Carnegie Hall+ platform, and 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.
(The rights to the monuments depicted belong to the Greek State and the Ministry of Culture, according to Law 4858/2021.)
Photo Credits: Stephan Talneau
For more information, please contact the Press Office of the Athens Concert Hall.:
+30 210 72 82 668
Info:
http://www.megaron.gr
