Vitsentzos Kornaros

Dates of performances 05-05-2011 to 05-06-2011

Press Release

"Erotokritos" by Vitzentzos Kornaros, the most important Cretan epic work and one of the most important Greek texts of all times, is presented in a subversive performance entitled "Erotokritos A/V. The emotional space of two", from Wednesday 5 May 2011 at "THEATRON" of Hellenic Cosmos, Iphigenia II Hall.

It is an original approach, where the magical words of the poet become a search tool for the people involved in the performance. Two couples –one in ancient Athens and one in present-day Athens–, the elements of nature and one of the most important representatives of contemporary Cretan music, Loudovikos ton Anogeion, using the original text and adding various perspectives and concepts, meet in time, due to the battle of love that is described in this epic work, in order to talk to an era that seeks reasons to fight.

A modern middle-aged couple in a state of emotional stagnation gets lost in a forest, and a conflict between them awakes it. An animal is killed, while the rest of the creatures guided by a tree become active and try to help the couple come close to one another again. The couple quickly realizes that this strange place is nothing more than their emotional world. The tree leads them to awakening presenting to them the story of Erotokritos, the young son of a courtier in ancient Athens, who falls in love with the beautiful princess. Fearing the reaction of the palace, he does not approach her. He just takes his lute and sings for her. Aretoussa, the princess, listens each night this magic voice that sings outside the palace and falls in love as well. The two loved ones will have to struggle and fight with all their power in order to be together.

The stage becomes a surrealistic forest, where the different trees represent the different aspects of the play. Among them, a tree with its roots emerging from the roof, a tree with branches made of light, a tree that makes sounds, a man-tree are the elements that constitute the environment in which the characters move, allowing them to exist outside time.

The play has been divided into three different levels of relationship: the classic couple of Erotokritos and Aretoussa, the modern couple and the Area. The classic couple speaks respectfully, while the modern one with conceit and audacity. The Area together with the musicians expresses itself with absolute knowledge.


The basic element of the performance, similarly to the tradition of the play from the period of its writing, is music. So, in the performance a musical dialogue takes place between Then and Now. The important Cretan troubadour Loudovikos ton Anogeion with his tender voiceκ, the magical melodies and his mandolin, accompanied by another musician, narrates the classical tale, using traditional melody, but exclusively new songs. In contrast, one of the most significant contemporary composers, Christos Theodorou, underlines through the use of nightmarish melodies the efforts of the modern couple to live together.


CREDITS
Conception-direction: Grigoris Hatzakis
Sets-costumes: Danae Hatzaki
Motion Supervision: Mariela Nestora
Composer-live performance: Loudovikos ton Anogeion
Original orchestral music: Christos Theodorou
Hairdresser: Vangelis Hatzis
Director Assistant: Dimitris Varvantakis


Actors:
Giorgis Tsabourakis
Vera Lardi
Kleopatra Tologou
Nancy Boukli
George Avramidis
Michalis Moulakakis
Giannis Koumoundros

Loudovikos ton Anogeion   
& Manolis Bardanis

Production: Athens Media Box