00:02Luigi Cherubini's Medea, presented by the Greek National Opera at the ancient theater of Epidorus on June 20th, was met
00:09with enthusiastic acclaim.
00:10An audience of 10.000 spectators gave a standing ovation to this visually stunning revival of the historic production that
00:17Maria Callas famously performed at the same venue in 1961.
00:21The demand for the production was extraordinary with all tickets selling out as early as February.
00:30Also, the character is very difficult because there is also to interpret it.
00:34There is not only to sing, there is to interpret it.
00:37There is to live the woman who is Medea, the magician, the sorcerer, and the atrocity that she did at
00:44the end of killing her children.
00:46So, there is to really put herself in her clothes to live 100% the character of Medea.
00:53And it's very difficult, especially here in this place where Maria Callas has a great role.
00:58The original 1961 production was directed by Alexis Minotis with sets and costumes designed by Yannis Charouhis and choreography by
01:06Maria Horse.
01:07The reconstructing this landmark staging proved particularly challenging as no video recording of the original production survives.
01:13The revival was the result of many years of research and meticulous study of archival material preserved in the historical
01:19archive of the Greek National Opera,
01:20the cultural foundation of the National Bank of Greece and various private archives and collections.
01:24We have only images that are red and yellow.
01:30So, these images helped us to manufacture the screen.
01:35In the 80s it was not the same because we had a lot of images,
01:39about 150 in that period of the time of the Tzarouhi.
01:42And if you see today the result,
01:45you will not understand the difference between the two of us and the two that we have done now.
01:49Thank you very much more.
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