The Athens and Epidaurus Festival is the city’s annual arts festival and a highlight of the Greek summer calendar. With a legacy that spans more than sixty years, today it incorporates a full programme of music, theatre, dance and visual arts. Performances at the two ancient theatres of the Odeon Herodes Atticus and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus are highlights of the festival. Both are famous for their exemplary acoustics and many of the great works of classical playwrights, such as Sophocles, premiered at the Epidaurus Theatre in ancient times.
Dimitri Platanias performing an aria for the Greek National Opera will appear in Tosca at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Photograph: courtesy of GNO
The 2021 festival reopens to live audiences, with performances by international musicians, Brian and Roger Eno, pianist Zubin Mehta with the Maggio Musicale Orchestra of Florence at the landmark stage of the Odeon of Herodes Atticus beneath the Acropolis.
Audiences can also expect performances by the Greek National Opera, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Lena Platonos among others.
At the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, ten productions will be performed three days a week from June to August, featuring Maja Zade’s version of Oedipus Rex.
** The Festival Producers wish to remind all patrons that due to the unprecedented times we are experiencing due to the global health crisis, performance dates may be subject to change should the need arise **
ODEON OF HERODES ATTICUS
The spectacular open-air theatre of Odeon Herodes Atticus provides a magical setting at the base of the Acropolis. It has hosted legendary performances by Frank Sinatra, Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti to name a few.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus during the Athens & Epidaurus Festival. Photo: Athens Festival/T.Daskalakis
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting Athens during the Festival, be sure to attend at least one performance at any of these ancient theatres for a truly unforgettable, once in a lifetime experience.
JUNE 2021
PERFORMANCES AT THE ODEON HERODES ATTICUS
(Note that not all theatrical performances will have English subtitles this season. If subtitles are included, they will be specified on the ticketing page)
14 June | Zubin Mehta & Pinchas Zuckerman – Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino – ON SALE NOW HERE
17 June | Anouar Brahem Quartet – ON SALE NOW HERE
19 June | Athens Philharmonia Orchestra – 36 Greek Dances – ON SALE NOW HERE
21 June | George Petrou & ERT National Symphony Orchestra – SOLD OUT
24 June | Daniil Trifinov & Athens State Orchestra – ON SALE NOW HERE
29 June | Eleftheria Arvanitaki & Armonia Atenea – ON SALE NOW HERE
JULY & AUGUST 2021
2 July | John Eliot Gardiner & Monterverdi Choir – ON SALE NOW HERE
3 July | Jan Garbarek Group – ON SALE NOW HERE
5 July | El Sistema – Blend Mishkin – ON SALE NOW HERE
6 July | Max Cooper – ON SALE NOW HERE
7 July | Woodkid – ON SALE NOW HERE
9 & 10 July | Edo Lilipoupoli – The Songs – ON SALE NOW HERE
12 July | Pavlos Pavlidis & The Boy – ON SALE NOW HERE
14 July | Lena Platonos & Nalyssa Green – ON SALE NOW HERE
15 July | Olafurs Arnalds – ON SALE NOW HERE
25, 27 & 29 July | Manos Hadjidakis ‘Dancing with my Shadow’ by the Greek National Opera – Sold Out
4 August | Brian & Roger Eno – ON SALE NOW HERE
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2021
7 September | The Frogs by Aristophanes – ON SALE NOW HERE
8 September | Tchaikovsky Symphonic Orchestra – ON SALE NOW HERE
10 & 11 September | Led Zeppelin Symphonic – ON SALE NOW HERE
13 September | Jonas Kaufmann & the GNO Orchestra –ON SALE NOW HERE
16 September | Trackers by Sophocles – ON SALE NOW HERE
17 September | Stamatis Spanoudakis Concert – ON SALE NOW HERE
18 September | Tango vs Flamenco – ON SALE NOW HERE
19 & 20 September | Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus – ON SALE NOW HERE
21, 22 & 23 September | Monica Belluci as Maria Callas – ON SALE NOW HERE
25 September | Classic Rock #5 Concert – ON SALE NOW HERE
26 September | Stavros Xarhakos Concert – ON SALE NOW HERE
27 September | Jack Savoretti Concert – ON SALE NOW HERE
28 September | Akram Khan – Outwitting the Devil – ON SALE NOW HERE
29 September | Tiger Lillies Concert – ON SALE NOW HERE
30 September & 1 October | STING live at the Odeon – SOLD OUT
2 October | The Bacchae by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
4 & 5 October | Orestes by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
6 & 7 October | Black Swan : Bolshoi Ballet – ON SALE NOW HERE
8 October | Melodic poetry of George Seferis – ON SALE NOW HERE
12 October | Lina Nikolakopoulou & Tania Tsanaklidou – ON SALE NOW HERE
13 October | Byzantine Music – ON SALE NOW HERE
ANCIENT THEATRE OF EPIDAURUS
A twilight performance by the National Theatre of Greece during the Epidaurus Festival. Photograph: Thomas Daskalakis/NTG
The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is regarded as the best-preserved ancient theatre in Greece and famous for its perfect acoustics. It was constructed in the late 4th century BC with a capacity of more than 12,000 spectators.
Why Athens Tip: Greek and English subtitles available for all performances
JUNE to SEPTEMBER 2021
PROGRAMME AT ANCIENT EPIDAURUS THEATRE
25, 26 & 27 June | The Knights by Aristophanes – National Theatre of Greece – ON SALE NOW HERE
2, 3 & 4 July | Iphigenia at Tauris by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
9, 10 & 11 July | The Frogs by Aristophanes – ON SALE NOW HERE
16, 17 & 18 July | Orestes by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
23, 24 & 25 July | Trackers by Sophocles – ON SALE NOW HERE
30, 31 July & 1 August | Phoenissae by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
6, 7 & 8 August | Helen by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
13, 14 & 15 August | The Bacchae by Euripides – ON SALE NOW HERE
20, 21 & 22 August | Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus – ON SALE NOW HERE
3, 4 & 5 September | Odipus by Maja Zade – ON SALE NOW HERE