On this episode of “Greece Around the World”, Giorgos Dionysopoulos had the honor of hosting Giannis Melachrinooudis, the director of the Greek Cultural Center in Cairo. The conversation was sparked by the splendid concert held by the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT, which, in collaboration with the A Cappella Choir of the Cairo Opera House, paid a heartfelt tribute to Mikis Theodorakis on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth.
The concert, which took place on the evening of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, was organized by the Greek Embassy in Egypt, in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, the Cairo Opera House, and ERT. It was held in the grand, packed hall of the Cairo Opera House, a revered venue that has welcomed some of the world’s most celebrated orchestras and artists. This concert was also part of the Greek Embassy’s festivities marking Greece’s national anniversary on March 25.
Under the direction of Michalis Economou, conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT, and with the mezzo-soprano Nefeli Kotseli as the soloist, the orchestra delivered an unforgettable performance that resonated deeply with the Greek community of Cairo, as well as the appreciative Egyptian audience. Their powerful rendition of Theodorakis’ works was met with a rousing ovation, a testament to the universal appeal of his music.
Among the distinguished guests were His Beatitude, Pope and Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa; Nikolaos Papageorgiou, the Greek Ambassador to Cairo; Polly Ioannou, the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Cairo; Christos Kavalis, President of the Greek Community of Cairo; Nabila Makram, President of the Executive Committee of National Unity for Social Development and former Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates; Mohamed Nawar, President of Egyptian Radio; Soha El Gendy, former Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates; Salah Hafez, former Minister of Environment; Hussein Fahmy, actor and President of the Cairo International Film Festival; Laila Eloui, renowned Greek-Egyptian actress; as well as a host of other political, diplomatic, intellectual, and artistic figures, including Members of Parliament Mohamed Zakareya, Tarek El-Holy, Doha Assi, intellectuals, artists, university professors, and entrepreneurs.
The evening not only celebrated the enduring legacy of Mikis Theodorakis but also reinforced the bond between Greece and Egypt, a connection deepened by shared cultural experiences and the power of music to transcend borders.