SNF Nostos from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
To have been so close so many times
Performance by the Greek National Opera

SNF Nostos from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)

To have been so close so many times

Performance by the Greek National Opera (GNO)

SNF Nostos from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) collaborates once more with the Greek National Opera (GNO) to present three major premieres across multiple venues at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). On Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28, at 20:00, the GNO will present To have been so close so many times at the Alternative Stage. Admission is free with event-specific registration.

The new Greek National Opera Ballet production To Have Been So Close So Many Times features a long-anticipated new music piece by composer and Greek National Opera artistic director Giorgos Koumendakis, along with four poems by Constantine Cavafy, contributions by three choreographers, nine GNO Ballet dancers, one singer, a visual and sound installation, and two small instrumental ensembles.

Modern dance and music theatre come together in the new compositions by Koumendakis, one of Greece's most prominent contemporary composers. Four chamber music pieces influenced by Greek traditional music converse with four poems by Cavafy, set to music in the amanes genre, and performed by singer Zaharias Karounis. Three distinguished choreographers-Patricia Apergi, Ilias Hatzigeorgiou, and Eva Georgitsopoulou-create new pieces based on a musical idiom that is rooted in Greek traditional and Byzantine music.

Visual artist Petros Touloudis has created a striking new visual and sound installation for this performance, which, along with percussion, converses with Cavafy's poetry. Thus, the isokratima (pedal tone) of the onstage musicians will blend with that of the dancers, who will be playing percussion of great timbral variety to accompany the amanes pieces.

Featuring Angelina Tkatcheva on santur, the Oros Ensemble and Osmosis Saxophone Quartet, with percussion coaching by John Papatzanis, who performs a wide range of percussion instruments on stage.

This production is made possible by a grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to enhance the GNO's artistic outreach.

Music theatre/Dance | New production
To Have Been So Close So Many Times
Giorgos Koumendakis
27, 28 June 2026 - GNO Alternative Stage | Starts at: 20.00
Music: Giorgos Koumendakis
Poetry: Constantine Cavafy
Choreography: Patricia Apergi, Ilias Hatzigeorgiou, Eva Georgitsopoulou
Visual and sound installation: Petros Touloudis
Costumes: Daglara | Lighting design: Nikos Vlasopoulos
Percussion coach: John Papatzanis
Singer: Zacharias Karounis
Santoor: Angelina Tkatcheva
Oros Ensemble: Apostolis Koutsogiannis (recorder), Antonis Tsachtanis (clarinet), Konstantinos Zigeridis (accordion), Eirini Krikoni (violin)
Osmosis Saxophone Quartet: Pantelis Lykoudis (soprano saxophone), Antonis Fotiadis (alto saxophone), Theofilos Sotiriadis (tenor saxophone), Giannis Myralis (baritone saxophone)
With the Dancers from the Greek National Opera Ballet

SNF Nostos from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF)
June 21-28, 2026
at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)
www.snfnostos.org
Free admission