© ANTHI KOUGIA / LIVING ROOM
The distinguished Greek conductor, originally based in Cologne, Germany, participates in three contemporary and alternative productions, within the framework of the Athens-Epidaurus Festival, and on the GNO Alternative Stage.
The esteemed maestro Yorgos Ziavras kicked off his summer performing season with a captivating performance that seamlessly merges drag, German lied, and visual arts, in the highly anticipated premiere of "LIVING ROOM" at the Alternative Stage of the Greek National Opera (GNO) on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, receiving resounding applause from both audiences and critics.
"LIVING ROOM," a collaborative creation by drag baritone Georgios Iatrou and director Anthi Kougia, tackles a diverse range of social issues. It delves into the theme of personal stagnation within one's environment, and the subsequent longing to break free from the constraints of rigid societal norms, ultimately leading to a transformative self-discovery. The visually stunning sets and costumes, conceptualized by architect Zak Louspas and Lara Buffard, ingeniously incorporate the metaphorical essence of the chameleon.
The performance featured Nina Nai (drag baritone) accompanied by Yorgos Ziavras on piano, while classical German songs by Richard Strauss, Gustaf Mahler, Hugo Wolff, Alban Berg and Franz Schubert were presented.
© Pinelopi gerasimou / athens epidaurus festival / subset festival 2023
Ziavras returns to Athens – Epidaurus Festival
Following his resounding success in the presentation of Cornelius Selamsis' opera "Leontios and Lena" at the National Theatre of Greece in 2016, Yorgos Ziavras made a triumphant return to the Athens-Epidaurus Festival. On the 24th and 25th of June, he took the podium of the New Stage of the Athens Conservatoire. With his exceptional conducting skills, Ziavras led the contemporary music ensemble TETTIX to astounding heights during the world premiere of Michalis Paraskakis' captivating play "Clear Waters." This remarkable performance, titled cheVron fold, was a collaboration between TETTIX and the brilliant lighting designer Eleni Choumou.
The SUBSET FESTIVAL, a groundbreaking initiative of the Athens-Epidaurus Festival, unveiled a remarkable platform where Greek and international contemporary music ensembles took center stage for the very first time. In collaboration with the esteemed Athens Conservatoire, the Festival proudly presented a cutting-edge project curated by the visionary Stavros Gasparatos. This innovative endeavor sought to showcase the prevailing new trends and groundbreaking developments within the realm of new and contemporary music on a global scale.
© Evita Skourleti / athens epidaurus festival
Yorgos Ziavras will take to the stage once again from July 17th to 20th, mesmerizing audiences with his piano skills in the much-anticipated production of "Songs of the Greek People – Drag Oratorio" by Yiannis Skourletis. Joined by drag baritone GEORGIOS Iatrou and performer Daglara, they will enchant the audience with classic Greek songs composed by Yiannis Konstantinidis / Kostas Giannidis at the Piraeus 260 venue hall.
In a bizarre landscape designed by set designer Konstantinos Skourletis, the contributors will talk about the open trauma of patriarchy and deviance. Through music, they will narrate another, often invisible, Greece, which lives on the margins of urbanism, in the vast countryside that surrounds the towns, in the gap between them. Idols of a well-hidden personal experience, narrate the passions and pain of otherness in a dystopian world.
