Greek National Opera

GNO was founded in 1940, a few months before the declaration of the Greco-Italian War. The way had already been paved by the flourishing opera tradition of the Ionian Islands and especially by the founding of Hellenic Melodrama, an opera company which ran in various forms from 1888 to 1938. From the outset, the GNO repertory featured operas, operettas and ballets. The opera company initially operated as part of the National Theatre of Greece; in 1944 it became a distinct state-owned entity and was officially named Greek National Opera. Performances are given at various venues in Athens. In 1958 Olympia Theatre venue was inaugurated, spearheading the growth of GNO's repertoire, with staging up to 20 productions annually. A total of almost thirty operas were introduced to the Greek audience for the first time, while the company arduously supported Greek composers. GNO's summer productions were staged at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus. The company's steady artistic development was however interrupted by the military coup of 21 April 1967. In 1974, when democracy was restored, GNO was delegated to the Hellenic Ministry of Culture. In the years that followed, several prominent figures of the Greek music scene have been at the helm of GNO, expanding its activities, especially by introducing new artists and promoting the company on an international level. GNO has gradually developed its co-production policy, so that nowadays it co-produces operas with some of the world's leading opera houses. Since 1994, GNO has been a state-funded private entity. In March 2017, it relocated at its new premises at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, where it has two venues: the Stavros Niarchos Hall for large productions and the Alternative Stage for smaller, experimental productions, often commissioned to young and up-and-coming artists. Every summer GNO presents productions at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.