The implementation of the strategic collaboration of the National Opera with one of the most important historical opera theaters in Europe, the Opéra Comique of Paris, begins with the adaptation of Offenbach's opera The Journey to the Moon, with direction and costumes by the distinguished French director Laurent Pelly , in which the children's and youth choirs of the two theaters will also participate.

The production is implemented with the support of the donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) to strengthen the artistic extroversion of the National Opera.

Director Laurent Pelly and playwright Agat Melinan adapted this great play with ingenuity and team spirit that will impress young and old alike.

Journey to the Moon is a four-act "opera-phantasmagoria" by Jacques Offenbach, to a poetic text by Albert Vanlot, Essen Lettier and Arnol Mortier loosely based on the novels From the Earth to the Moon and Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.

The work was written in the wake of the success of Jules Verne's works and combines the fantastical element with the scientific achievements of the time, while its production invested heavily in the elements of sensationalism and phantasmagoria. Among other things, it included two ballets, while 20 stage images and 673 costumes were designed for the needs of the production. The audience saw on stage a cannon, which launched the characters at the Moon, a volcanic eruption, as well as the main hall of the Paris observatory.

The work was first presented in 1875 and caused such a sensation that in the following artistic period seven different variety shows of the French capital made direct reference to it. In 1876, Trip to the Moon was presented in London and Vienna, while it was only performed in Paris after completing 185 performances. However, before time was up he re-upped on a different stage!

In the new adaptation of the play, the complex stage requirements foreseen by the libretto give way to imagination, while the libretto, the music and the direction create a dream world for the young performers of the Children's and Youth Choirs of the Hellenistic Greek Orthodox Church and Opera Comic.

Music director: Ilias Voudouris
Direction, costumes: Laurent Pelly
Adaptation of libretto and new version of dialogues: Agat Melinan
Stages: Barbara de Limburg
Lighting: Joel Adam
Children's choir director: Konstantina Pitsiakou

When:

12 JULY 2023 WEDNESDAY 19:30
13 JULY 2023 THURSDAY 19:30

Tickets:

Ticket prices: €10, €12, €15, €20
Student, child: €10
Limited visibility: €5