The Garden of the Megaron will come alive with music on Saturday as the Athens Concert Hall hosts three free open-air performances to celebrate European Music Day.
Marking the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, the event will offer audiences a diverse journey through classical, contemporary, and traditional Greek music.
The evening opens at 8 p.m. on the main stage with the Athens State Orchestra performing Mikis Theodorakis’ "Alexis Zorbas Suite," an arrangement by Dimitris Michas.
Mr. Anastasios Symeonidis will conduct the orchestra, featuring mezzo-soprano Ms. Margarita Syggeniotou.
At 8:45 p.m., the Aether String Quartet will take over the side stage with Antonín Dvořák’s popular String Quartet No. 12 in F major, widely known as “The American.”
The quartet includes Mr. Andreas Papanikolaou and Mr. Vassilis Soukas on violin, Ms. Enkela Kokolani on viola, and Mr. Angelos Liakakis on cello.
The evening will conclude at 9:30 p.m. with a performance by the Domna Samiou Greek Folk Music Association. Titled “My Sun, My Three-Sun, Stay and Rise,” the set draws on seasonal folk traditions such as the fire-walking Anastenaria of Thrace and various summer solstice rituals.
The concert features singer and artistic director Ms. Katerina Papadopoulou, percussionist Mr. Vangelis Karipis with members of Taiwan’s Yu Percussion ensemble, and musicians Mr. Giorgos Kontogiannis on lyra, Mr. Theodoros Kouelis on electric bass, and Mr. Chariton Charitonidis on bagpipes and dance instruction.
The association’s choir and dance troupe will also perform.
The Megaron’s music celebration is part of the wider European Music Day, a cultural initiative that fills public spaces with music every June 21 across the continent.
Admission to all events is free.