10/16/2026
A HISTORIC EVENING AT CARNEGIE HALL 🇬🇷
Last night, the Greek National Opera – Εθνική Λυρική Σκηνή made its historic Carnegie Hall debut, filling one of the world's most iconic and celebrated concert halls with the powerful sounds of Greece.
Nikos Kazantzakis: An Odyssey in Music took the audience on a journey through the works of the Cretan-born author, whose writing reflected the hardships, passions, and determination of the Greek people. As Greece's most translated modern author, with works published in more than 50 languages, Kazantzakis introduced generations of readers around the world to Greek life, history, and literature.
Featuring works by five Greek composers, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hadjidakis, Nikos Skalkottas, Dimitri Mitropoulos, and Giorgos Koumendakis, the evening brought more than a century of Greek musical history to Carnegie Hall. From Mitropoulos’ Cretan Feast, composed in 1919, to the familiar sounds of Theodorakis’ Zorba the Greek, the performance also featured the music of Mitropoulos, who later became music director of the New York Philharmonic.
Thank you to the Stavros Niarchos Foundation for making this remarkable evening possible and for its generous support as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations.
Memorable moments of the evening were the performance of Zorba the Greek, when the audience joined in, clapping along to the music. The concert ended with a standing ovation for the Greek National Opera and its musicians.
A proud moment for Greek Americans and New Yorkers to experience Greek artistic excellence on one of New York City's most iconic stages. What a night to remember! 🇬🇷🇬🇷🇬🇷
