Easter Concert of Love: Thomas Bakalakos

Experiencing Greek Orthodox Easter in Athens feels suspended between the city’s contemporary rhythm and a deeply resonant passage of light and shadow, a time of shared rites and sacred gatherings unfolding as the city begins to bloom with spring’s awakening.

It is a season of striking contrasts: as many Athenians leave the city, those who remain take part in rituals that quietly transform it. The hush of candlelit Holy Week processions gives way to the bright, irrepressible energy of spring. Church bells echo through narrow neoclassical streets, while flickering lambades glow in the hands of locals.

In this spirit, the City of Athens presents a curated series of concerts and performances set within historic churches and landmark venues. Step into these spaces, where music lingers against stone and time seems to slow, to experience an Easter shaped by atmosphere, tradition, and the enduring soul of the city.

The historic Olympia City Music Theatre "Maria Callas" hosts an ambitious symphonic programme that seeks to bridge the philosophical gap between East and West through the lens of the Easter season. At the heart of this performance are three world premieres by Greek composer Thomas Bakalakos. These works explore the parallel lines of ancient Greek and Chinese thought, culminating in a symphonic oratorio based on St Paul’s ‘Hymn to Love’. It is a performance that leans into the reflective, spiritual atmosphere of the city’s festive calendar, executed on a grand scale by the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra and Choir.

Under the direction of Apostolos Palios, the evening features a group of acclaimed soloists and horn player Vangelis Vavylousakis. The programme is introduced by Alexandra Gialini, providing context to the complex spiritual themes explored in the new compositions. Tickets can be purchased online or at the theatre box office, which operates Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 6 pm.