In the framework of the events organized by this year’s Athens and Epidaurus Festival, the ancient Greek theatre of Delphi will open its gates to the public after 37 years of utter silence for a unique performance on July 21 combining theatre, poetry and music.
Well known actors, such as Yiannis Vogiatzis, Nikos Karathanos, Eleni Kokkidou, Lydia Koniordou, Olia Lazaridou, Maya Lymberopoulou, Vassilis Papavassiliou, Reni Pittaki and Marissa Triantafyllidou, will recite extracts from ancient Greek tragedies and poems they love, while the New Hellenic Quartet will perform works by Ravel, Mozart and Skalkottas along with the soprano Lenia Zapheiropoulos and the clarinetist Dionyssis Grammenos.
Built in the 4th c. B.C. further up the hill from the Temple of Apollo, the theatre presented its seated audiences with plays, poetry readings, and musical events during the various festivals that took place periodically there in ancient times.
In May 1927, with the support of his wife, Angelos Sikelianos held the Delphic Festival, as part of his general effort towards the revival of the Delphic Idea. Sikelianos believed that the principles, which had shaped the classic civilization, if reexamined, could offer spiritual independence and serve as a means of communication among people.
The event consisted of Olympic contests, a concert of Byzantine music, an exhibition of folk art as well as a performance of Prometheus Bound. It became very successful and despite lack of state assistance, it was repeated once more, the following year. The revival was permanently abandoned due to the excessive expense of organizing it. In honour of the memory of Angelos and Eva Sikelianos, the European Cultural Centre of Delphi bought and restored their house in Delphi, which is today the Museum of Delphic Festivals.
The overall budget for restoring the ancient Greek theatre of Delphi will be part of the ESPA funds and is estimated at 1.3 million Euros. The restoration works are expected to be completed by mid 2015.
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