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 Georgetown
University, offered interpretive introduction to Prometheus Bound. An
artistic and informative program was available to the participants to
follow the plot of the opera. A nice reception followed the performance.
The proceeds
of the event will benefit the St. George Building Fund and the new St.
Katherine’s Paideia preschool program.
