Haris Alexiou, Dimitra Stogianni, and Zaharias Karounis narrate Romanos the Melodist
Nicosia For Art – the production team behind the Nicosia International Festival – presents the world premiere of a performance of words and music, inspired by the work of Saint Romanos the Melodist. The production, directed by Zaharias Karounis, will take place on the 7th and 8th of April exclusively at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre. It recounts the events of Holy Week, from Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to His Crucifixion and Resurrection, unfolding through seven scenes and six newly composed musical pieces by Thomas Konstantinou.
A musical-theatrical stage reading, featuring Haris Alexiou, Dimitra Stogianni, and Zaharias Karounis, breathes life into selected excerpts from Romanos’ verses, rendered into modern Greek, through dramatised dialogues and narrations. The performers – actors and musicians alike – become vessels for the thoughts of Romanos, presenting the eternal angst of the human mind and free will, as it grapples with expression, with choice – between light and darkness.
The narrations are interwoven with original orchestral compositions performed by a five-piece ensemble, complemented by pre-recorded soundscapes, and visual projections.
Romanos
“I am compelled to draw those we love closer to our own sensibilities. From Byzantium, I have chosen Romanos the Melodist.” These words by Greek Nobel prize winner Odysseas Elytis attest to the profound influence Romanos had on his work.
For the Nobel laureate poet, “few, very few, even today, have truly realised that the parchment given to Romanos one night by the Virgin Mary to devour – according to hagiographic accounts – transformed him into a worthy vessel, capable of transplanting a unique mode of expression from the ancient Greek world into the medieval Hellenic tradition, a form that has survived intact to this day”.
The Translation
The poetic rendering of Romanos’ texts into modern Greek for the first time by the late Archimandrite Ananias Koustenis (1945-2021) marks an event of exceptional significance, both for Greece and for the global spiritual heritage. This translation not only bridges linguistic comprehension for contemporary audiences but also captures the profound essence of Romanos’ meanings to such an extent that the original and its translation become nearly indistinguishable.
As Father Ananias Koustenis himself writes in his introduction:
“Romanos is a revelation. Through the ages, he has ‘intoxicated’ many. A great master of words and a Saint of God. A man of love and humility. As we read his poems, we truly feel as if he takes us gently by the hand and, leads where he wishes – softly, tenderly. And we surrender ourselves to him, rejoicing in the journey. We partake in joys untouched by decay, and little by little, our very lives are transformed.”
Contributors
Narration: Haris Alexiou, Dimitra Stogianni, Zaharias Karounis
Direction – theatrical adaptation – hymn performance: Zaharias Karounis
Poetic Rendition into Modern Greek: Archimandrite Ananias Koustenis
Text selection and editing: Dimitra Stogianni, Thomas Konstantinou
Original music composition, orchestration, music design: Thomas Konstantinou
String arrangement: Yiannis Plagiannakos, Thomas Konstantinou
Performing musicians:
Oud: Thomas Konstantinou
Qanun: Stefanos Dorbarakis
Cello: Despoina Spanou
Double bass: Yiannis Plagiannakos
Percussion and soundscapes: Manousos Klapakis
Lighting and visual projection design: Dimitris Koutas
Visual projection editing: Zaharias Karounis
Video animation, graphic design: Thanos Kosmidis
Sound design: Giorgos Fraggelis, Nikolas Prokopiou
Scientific consultants: Dimitra Angelopoulou, Zoe Liaka
Costume designer: Evelyna Darzenta
Artistic production supervision: Thomas Konstantinou
Production execution: ETHOS NPO
Produced by: Nicosia For Art, Nicosia International Festival
Suitable for ages: 14+
Duration: 70΄
Tickets: Available online via Soldout Tickets: bit.ly/NIF24_tickets, at Stephanis stores, and the Nicosia Municipal Theatre box office (Monday – Friday 10:00-13:00).
Ticket prices:
ΖONE Α: €36/ €32
ΖONE Β: €32/ €28
ΖONE C: €28/ €24
ΖONE D: €24/€20
Reduced tickets are valid for: Children, students, soldiers, pensioners, large families, actors, people with disabilities (free) with presentation of relevant ID.
Information: 22797979 (Monday – Friday 10:00-13:00)
Festival identity
Organisers: Nicosia Municipality, Nicosia For Art
Media sponsors: DIAS Publishing House, DIESI 101,1, Η ΚATHIMERINH
Also read: Fully accessible performances at National Theatre of Greece
