ATHENS – In the distance, sparkling ferry boats would come and go to all the islands of the Archipelago, but on September 1 the place to be was on the shore at Bati Beach on the Athens Riviera for the inaugural concert of the Falirika cultural festival.
Tenor Stavros Salabasopoulos, along with soprano Katia Paschou, backed by fine musicians and later joined by the women’s chorus Vηρηιδες– Sea Nymphs – of Paleo Faliro, dazzled the packed open air theater with hit songs of 20th century Greek and international music, films and Broadway musicals, including Somewhere (There’s a Place for Us) from West Side Story.
Salabasopoulos set the tone for the evening with moving renditions of the “Theme fromLove Story” and “O Solo Mio,” and the audience was thrilled when Paschou joined him for the love duet from Phantom, her lovely green dress swaying in the sea breeze.
The chorus is led and taught by Katerina Vasilikou. Among their presentations was the beautifully sung “Ballad of Ouri,”Nikos Gatsos’ haunting poem set to music by Manos Hajidakis, and the concert concluded with the soloists joining the orchestra led by Giorgos Tskokanis – who also dazzled on piano – for beloved Greek songs.
The audience happily followed orders when urged to clap and sing along.
They also enjoyed an unexpected bonus. Occasionally glancing the surf pouring onto the beach by the stage and the lights of Kastella hill in the distance, they were treated to a brief fireworks display over the Piraeus.
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