Music theatre

STRELLA

Michalis Paraskakis

76'

Expired

Description

Panos H. Koutras’ stunning, multi-award-winning film Stella (2009), a milestone in modern Greek cinema, that became a chamber opera commissioned by the Greek National Opera from composer Michalis Paraskakis, comes to GNO TV. An emblematic film about the visibility of trans people and the LGTBQ+ community in Greece and abroad inspires for the first time a Greek operatic work.

The new chamber opera Strella with a libretto by Alexandra K* and conducted by Konstantinos Terzakis, returns, through the fresh subversive eye of sought-after theatre director George Koutlis, to the GNO Alternative Stage at the SNFCC. The roles of Strella, Mary and Wilma are performed respectively by the transgender artists Letta Kappa, Ioanna Zam-Petrou and Victoria Tsitouridou-Maya, returning to the operatic stage.

At a glance – Synopsis

The opera treats the meeting between Yorgos, a 48-year-old man newly released from prison, and Strella, a young trans sex worker who idolises Maria Callas. The future seems open for both of them for the first time after a very long time. However, as Yorgos’ accounts with the past are far from closed, his history comes back to haunt him. Together with Strella, they must find a way to redemption.

Creative team – Cast

Libretto:Alexandra K*, based on Panos H. Koutras’ film of the same title
Conductor:Konstantinos Terzakis
Stage director:George Koutlis
Set designer:Eva Manidaki
Costume designer:Ioanna Tsami
Movement coach, choreographer:Fenia Apostolou
Lighting designer:Nikos Vlasopoulos

Letta Kappa (Strella), Anastasia Kotsali (Callas), Michalis Psyrras (Yorgos), Ioanna Zam-Petrou (Mary), Nikos Spanatis (Alex), Victoria Tsitouridou-Maya (Wilma), Nikos Ziaziaris (Antonis, 1^st Cop, Yuri), Nicolas Maraziotis (Nikos, 2^nd Cop), Nina Naï (Drag performer), George Roupas (Kouloukousis), Alexandros Stavropoulos (Squirrel), Christina Kyriaki (Child)

Musicians:
Ana Chifu (flute), Antonis Tsachtanis (clarinet), Guido de Flaviis (saxophone), George Krimperis (trombone), Kazuyo Tsunehiro (percussion), Mislav Režić (electric guitar), Christos Sakellaridis (piano), Artemis Vavatsika (bayan), Fani Vovoni (18, 20, 21, 22, 25/10) / Alexis Theofylaktou (27, 29/10, 2, 3, 4/11) (violin), Charis Pazaroulas (double bass)

Photos & videos

Photos

Reviews

This highly acclaimed chamber play by Michalis Parakakis shimmers between spoken play, melodrama and musical theatre. It is just as fluid as its title character

Conductor Konstantinos Terzakis and his ten musicians are constantly involved in the action, in the drag club, in cinematic interludes, the colourful score works with contrasting hard cuts and painful operatic verismo. A squirrel dances, a child trundles past, and in the end everyone celebrates a mixture of Christmas and a polyamorous carnival between garlands of gold.

Manuel Brug - Die Welt