Odeon of Herodes Atticus

The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theatre structure located on the southwest slope of the Acropolis of
Athens.

Ancient times

View of the theatre from the Acropolis

was destroyed and turned into a ruin by the Heruli in 267

AD.

2 Modern events

Historical image of Odeon of Herodes Atticus (ca. 1880)

Detail of the faade

The audience stands and the orchestra (stage) were restored using pentelic marble in the 1950s. Since then it
Herbert von Karajan and the Orchestra of the Athens Conservahas
been the main venue of the Athens Festival, which
tory (later to become the Athens State Orchestra) at the Odeon of
runs
from May through October each year, featuring a
Herodes Atticus (1939)
variety of acclaimed Greek as well as International perIt was built in 161 AD by the Athenian magnate Herodes formances.
Atticus in memory of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. In 1957 Maria Callas performed at the Odeon as part of
It was originally a steep-sloped theater with a three-story the Athens Festival and in the same year Edith Hamilstone front wall and a wooden roof made of expensive, ton was pronounced an honorary citizen of Athens at
cedar of Lebanon timber. It was used as a venue for music ninety years of age. In May 1962 Frank Sinatra gave
concerts with a capacity of 5,000. It lasted intact until it two Benet concerts for the city of Athens. The Odeon
1

of Herodes Atticus was the venue for the Miss Universe

1973 pageant. Another memorable performance at the
Odeon of Herodes Atticus was given by the Greek singer
Nana Mouskouri in 1984; after 20 years of absence she
returned to her country. Luciano Pavarotti performed
at the Odeon twice, in 1991 and in 2004. Vangelis'
Mythodea premiered at Odeon of Herodes Atticus in July
1993 and the venue hosted Yanni's Live at the Acropolis performance in September 1993. Sting performed
at the venue during his Mercury Falling Tour on May
17, 1996. Mario Frangoulis has performed at the historic theatre with Yannis Markopoulos' Orpheus in 1996
and also played the role of Erotokritos in his work based
on Vitsentzos Kornaros' Erotokritos. He also performed
'Axion Esti' poem by Odysseus Elytis music by Mikis
Theodorakis and conducted by the composer himself in
May 1998 to benet Elpida foundation for children suffering from cancer. Elton John performed two concerts at
the venue during his Medusa Tour in 2000. In June 2008
Sylvie Guillem performed Bolro in company with the
Tokyo Ballet as part of the Athens Festival. In September 2010, tenor Andrea Bocelli held a concert at the
Odeon to raise funds for Cancer research. In the Year
2012 Mario Frangoulis performed the leading role in Carl
Or's Carmina Burana at the Herodes Atticus theater.
Among the artists who have performed at the Odeon
of Herodes Atticus include Plcido Domingo, Jos
Carreras, Montserrat Caball, Alicia de Larrocha, the
Bolshoi Ballets, Maurice Bjart, Joaqun Corts, Paco
de Luca, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Goran Bregovic,
Jean Michel Jarre, Ennio Morricone, Jethro Tull, Karolos
Koun, Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, Nikos
Koundouros, Spiros Evangelatos, Yannis Markopoulos,
George Dalaras, Haris Alexiou, Marinella, Dionysis
Savopoulos and many other important artists and artistic
organizations.

See also
List of concert halls
List of contemporary amphitheaters

External links
The southern slope of the Acropolis and the theatre
itself, Hellenic Ministry of Culture.
Video: Haris Alexiou performance at the Odeon
of Herodes Atticus in 1994, directed by Mauro
Bolognini; in this video a part dedicated to her collaboration with Manos Hadjidakis, who had died a
few days before the concert.

Coordinates: 375815N 234328E / 37.970756N

23.724444E

EXTERNAL LINKS

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

5.1

Text

Odeon of Herodes Atticus Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeon_of_Herodes_Atticus?oldid=713902912 Contributors: Topbanana, Warofdreams, PDH, Paul August, CanisRufus, Emerson7, Smrgeog, Rjwilmsi, Vegaswikian, Chronographos, Tzorge, Shauni,
YurikBot, RussBot, V Brian Zurita, Odysses, Endurance, Jpbowen, Janmad, M stone, Madmedea~enwiki, TheLeopard, Colonies Chris,
Cplakidas, Greenshed, T-borg, KRBN, Bhludzin, Neddyseagoon, Eponymous-Archon, Cydebot, Parisinos, Thijs!bot, Z10x, .anacondabot, El Greco, The Anomebot2, Merlo1, RedMC, Cricket02, M-le-mot-dit, Alirn, Vanrechem, Nikthestunned, Frguerre, VolkovBot,
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Gralter, WestportWiki, Ugog Nizdast, FeralGamezAnthony, Bodhisattwa, Soldier of the Empire and Anonymous: 42

5.2

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Own work Original artist: Adam L. Clevenger
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5.3

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