During the last years a systematic endeavour has
been made in order to achieve a qualitative improvement of the ballet.
The ballet force is getting reinforced by the most capable dancers and
in the meantime it works in collaboration with choreographers who are periodically
called back, such as Lorca Massine, Germinal Casado, Rudi van Dantzig,
Leonidas De Pian, Giannis Metsis, Dora Tsatsou - Symeonidou, Serge Keuten,
Zouzou Nicoloudi and many others. With help from the State, the Ballet
acquired its own ball rooms for training purposes and consequently it has
improved its artistic standard even more.
RICHARD WAGNER, «DER FLIEGENDE HOLLANDER»,
1994 At the same time, a school of Opera and Ballet is operating by the
Greek National Opera where the admitted candidates get a teaching free
of charge, by lyric singers and dancers who possess an experience of many
years and they have a successful career.The activities of the Greek National
Opera are not limited in the narrow limits of the capital of this country.
It has given performances also in Cyprus, Salonica and Corfu.Now, under
new status qvo, the Greek National Opera is a Corporate Body under Public
Law and it can renew its co-operation with its employees, a fact that guarantees
the best selection of its artists as well as a high standard of performances.
It is worth mentioning that, many soloists and
the ex dancers of the Greek National Opera have been called back from great
theatres of foreign countries, such as, for example, Covent Garden for
a number of performances.The task for which the Greek National Opera is
called to perform, being the only lyric theatre of Greece, is to accustom
the Greek spectator with the Art of Opera. Among the many objectives of
the Greek National Opera are the following : Opera performances that
can cover the visions of time from the birth of opera from the classical
era up to the present day.
Performances of operettas, ballets, musicals
and theatre music.
Concerts with music from the Symphonic
Orchestra of the Greek National Opera and concerts of chamber music by
the Chamber music orchestra of the Greek National Opera.
Tours all over Greece, wherever there
is essential technical substructure and finally tours to other countries.
Creation, organisation and operation of
a national Archive of music, of a library of music and of a museum with
costumes, stage models, musical scores and many items from great performances
presented by the Greek National Opera.
Safeguarding of the presumptions for the
creation and promotion of new melodramatic or dancing works.
Co-operation with the various organisations
of Greece and other foreign countries with terms and agreements which are
constituted under the conditions of each case.
For the young people : Special manifestations
of opera and ballet in the form of educational concerts for Students.
Performances of opera for children.
Operation of Studio for Opera and Ballet,
at professional standards, for young lyric artists.