Official music video of “Great Hours” concert at Herodeion, Athens available now

GREAT HOURS
composed by ANDREAS KATSIGIANNIS
with texts by ALEXANDROS FOTEINOS

with the ATHENS STATE ORCHESTRA
conducted by STATHIS SOULIS

Singers:
GLYKERIA, DIMITRIS BASIS,
JONATHAN JACKSON and ELEANNA VARELA

A magical night was experienced by the thousands of spectators at the filled to capacity Herodion Theater on 29 September 2022. The sold out performance of the “Great Hours”, a multidimensional musical work of the composer Andreas Katsigiannis, featured the Athens State Orchestra under the direction of the conductor Stathis Soulis.

The moving performances of Glykeria, Dimitris Bassis, Eleanna Varela and the five time Emmy award winning American musician and actor, Jonathan Jackson, together with 100 choristers from three different choirs, created one of the most devout moments experienced below the “Sacred Rock” of the Acropolis. The great protagonist, Nikitas Tsakiroglou, in the role of the narrator, connected the multi-faceted musical trilogy of the composer in a unique way.

Two albums, “The Place of Silence” (Tis Siopis o Topos) and “Full of Grace” (Keharitomeni), from the trilogy of the composer Andreas Katsigiannis, premiered at this concert. In “The Place of Silence” – Mount Athos – the presence of the Light is constantly experienced throughout “The Great Hours”. And the hours become greater still when the eternal Mother of Light, through “Full of Grace” transmits her Light to those who seek it.

The performance, as a devout prayer, was heard like the rustling of the wind under the canopy of the virtuous Athonite sky all the way to the Athenian heavens.

The two albums “Tis Siopis o Topos” and “Keharitomeni” are released on CD and vinyl and on all digital platforms

Texts by Alexandros Foteinos
Lyrics: Alexandros Foteinos, Lina Nikolakopoulou, Elli Fotaki

The choirs participated:
“Chorus Vivendi”, conductor Giannis Vryzakis
Choir “Melodoi”, conductor Georgios Ziakas
Choir of the University of Thessaly, conductor Nikos Chiotoglou

ESTOUDIANTINA – Solo musicians:
Alexandros Arkadopoulos, wind
Stefanos Dorparakis, qanun
Markos Arlan Oscar, keyboards
Philipps Retsios, piano
Apostolos Valaroutsos, guitars
Nikos Mermigas, lafta, laouto
Takis Vassiliou, percussion

Orchestrations: Dimitris Mathiopoulos, Dimitrios Siambos, Apostolos Tsiarkas, Andreas Katsigiannis
Sound design and engineering: Giorgos Kariotis
Directors: Marios Retsilas, Panagiotis Podaropoulos
Television direction and montage: Nikolas Economides

PRODUCTION: Pemptousia