Greek Embassy in Cairo Hosts Reception Celebrating ERT Symphony Orchestra, ‘Acapella' Choir of Cairo Opera House
Rana Atef
On Monday, the Greek Embassy in Cairo held a warm reception to welcome the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT and the Egyptian 'Acappella' Choir of the Cairo Opera House on the eve of the anticipated 'Zorba the Greek' performance at the Cairo Opera House.
The event was attended by the Greek Ambassador to Cairo, officials of Greece Embassy in Cairo, and members from the National Symphony Orchestra of ERT, and the Egyptian' Acappella' Choir of Cairo Opera House. Tuesday's performance will be held in celebration of Greek National Day, as well as the declaration of 2025 as the year dedicated to the legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis.
The event is an example of the deep collaboration between Greece and Egypt in the scene of arts and culture to enhance the mutual dialogue between the peoples of both countries.
Reflections on 'Zorba the Greek' Performance Cultural Significance
To touch upon the cultural value of 'Zorba the Greek' performance at such a prestigious stage as Cairo Opera House, SEE News interviewed several members from both ensembles that will perform the show. Greek Harpist Ersilia Mikrou said: 'We are super happy to be here and very excited to perform tomorrow,' adding: 'It's an honor to perform this iconic work by a composer who has shaped Greek culture, and to do so in a way that bridges cultures with Egypt. It's my first time performing at the Cairo Opera House, and it's such an amazing concert hall.'
Conductor Michalis Economou echoed his sentiments, expressing his excitement and emotional connection to the occasion.
'It's a very big honor for the Greek National Radio Symphony Orchestra to be here and to cooperate with this amazing chorus. I rehearsed with them yesterday and was so thrilled. We are performing a piece that is part of Greek cultural heritage—Zorba the Greek by Mikis Theodorakis—which, in my opinion, is even more widely recognized than our national anthem. It's emotional for us to be in a country with such a rich tradition in the arts,' he highlighted.
Despite it being his first time in Cairo, Economou is confident: 'The atmosphere is so friendly, I'm just ready to go and perform. It will be fantastic.'
A Shared Sentiment Between Egypt and Greece
A senior member of the orchestra also emphasized the emotional resonance of performing in Cairo: 'The orchestra is incredibly excited to be here. When Greek people come to Egypt, there is a strong emotional bond—these two countries have been close forever. That sentiment will come through in the music. I think the audience will see our performers give 200%.'
Although the orchestra previously performed in Alexandria at the opening of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, this concert might mark their debut at the Cairo Opera House.
A Night to Remember
Greek Ambassador to Egypt, Nikolaos Papageorgiou, shared his pride in the cultural cooperation. He described: 'On the occasion of Greek National Day and the declaration of 2025 as the year of Mikis Theodorakis, I am very happy that the Greek Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra has found its way to Cairo. This is another exceptional moment of cooperation between the Embassy, the Ministry of Culture, and the Cairo Opera House, and we are truly grateful.'
Voices from Egypt's "Acappella" Choir
Members of the Acappella Choir of the Cairo Opera House also expressed their excitement and appreciation for the cultural collaboration.
Acappella Choir of the Cairo Opera House member Mahmoud Waheed expressed: 'We are thrilled to be part of this collaboration between the Greek Embassy and the Cairo Opera House. Zorba is one of the most important ballets internationally, and it's rare in that it incorporates choral singing. This is a beautiful opportunity for cultural exchange.'
Choir member Joe Ashkar added: 'It's the first real collaboration between our choir and a foreign embassy during my time here. We've done performances with German and Italian groups before, but we rarely had a chance to get to know each other and explore each other's cultures like this. This is a special experience.'
A Highly-Anticipated Return
Director of Music Ensembles at ERT, Maria Kopana, noted the historic return: 'It's wonderful to be back in Egypt. The last time we were here was in 1993—32 years ago. It's a joy to return and to present this iconic work by Mikis Theodorakis. The cooperation with the Cairo Opera House and the Greek Embassy has been excellent. We're truly honored.'
The collaboration between the Greek National Symphony Orchestra, the Cairo Opera House's Acappella Choir, and the Greek Embassy in Cairo reflects the mutual cultural relationships between Egypt and Greece, exemplifying the importance of cultural and artistic exchange to connect people.
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