AEF2023: Songs of the Greek People – Drag oratorio

It’s that time of the year again, when Athenians start planning their summer holidays around the programme of the Athens Epidaurus Festival. The leading performing arts festival in Greece, and one of the oldest in Europe, returns between June 1st and August 26th for its 68th edition with a rich programme of events. As always, the main venues are the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the industrial complex of Pireos 260 and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. Click here for our festival picks or head over to the official website for the full programme.

Director Giannis Skourletis and the bijoux de kant company are queering Greek musical tradition one step at a time. This time, they draw inspiration from composer, conductor and pianist Giannis Konstantinidis. Coming from Minor Asia, Konstantinidis took on the pseudonym Kostas Giannidis and led a successful career in elafra laika (light-hearted Greek pop) songs. Later on he completely devoted himself to classical work inspired by traditional Greek music. The bijoux de kant company along with drag baritone Nina Nai, performer Daglara and pianist Giorgos Ziavras use Konstantinidis’ Twenty Songs of the Greek People song cycle to queer Greek history and give it a dark twist.