Achilleion Museum Concludes the Successful 2021 Cultural Events Series

The Achilleion Museum has successfully concluded this year’s cycle of cultural events, having organized over 20 cultural activities.

In a year marked by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hellenic Public Properties Company (HPPC S.A.) and the Achilleion Museum hosted a series of concerts, film screenings, lectures, and exhibitions. These events highlighted the Palace not only as a high-value museum space but also as an emblematic center of Art and Culture.

Recognizing that culture and art serve as a universal language, the Achilleion Museum collaborated with the Ministry of Culture and Sports and other local, national, and international organizations, including the Region of the Ionian Islands, the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands, the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment, and the Austrian Embassy in Greece. The Museum presented a series of internationally acclaimed artists and speakers, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy unique events throughout the summer season in the atmospheric setting of the Palace Gardens, under the artistic direction of Roza Poulimenou.

HPPC and the Achilleion Museum warmly thank all collaborators and those who attended, contributing to the cultural development of the beautiful Ionian island. With the promise to offer more memorable moments with new cultural activities next year, we look forward to welcoming everyone again in Corfu, in the stunning gardens of the Achilleion Palace, in the summer of 2022.

Achilleion Museum – Cultural Activities 2021

Culture and Music: “Achilleion Museum Musical Events 2021”

• May 18, 2021 – International Museum Day
  Free guided tours of the Museum for all Corfu residents, sponsored by the Union of Certified Guides of the Ionian Islands and Western Greece.

• June 21, 2021 – World Music Day
  Series of events in collaboration with the Department of Music Studies, Ionian University, including activities for children aged 5 and above under the theme “Musical Explorations at the Achilleion”, led by Roza Poulimenou and Zoe Dionysiou, Associate Professors at the Ionian University.

• July 9, 2021 – Lecture: “Maria Callas, The Sacred Flame”
  Lecture within the framework of the temporary exhibition “Maria Callas, Global High Priestess of Opera”, speaker: Elena Matthaiopoulou. Co-organized with the Region of the Ionian Islands and the Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontia Islands.

• July 11, 2021 – Opening of the Temporary Exhibition “Maria Callas, Global High Priestess of Opera”
  Organized by HPPC and the Achilleion Museum, in collaboration with the Maria Callas Society, the Region of the Ionian Islands, and the Municipality of Central Corfu. The exhibition featured personal items, dresses, music scores, artworks, and eight original costumes from TEATRO ALLA SCALA DI MILANO.

• July 24, 2021 – “Three Ladies at the Opera”
  Artists: Marianna Mansola, Marisia Papalexiou, Roza Poulimenou, piano: Marilena Eloul. Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• August 5, 2021 – Concert: “As If It Were Yesterday”
  Works by Attik, Chairopoulos, Giannidis. Artists: Elpiniki Zervou (soprano), Petros Karydis (baritone), Anastasios Strikos (piano), Ensemble Retro Corfu, Natalia Strikou (mandolin), Redona Kola (violin), Dimitris Argyros (clarinet), Ambrosios Vlachopoulos (cello), Yiannis Koutayiar (double bass), Yiannis Patrikios (percussion). Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• August 11, 2021 – Song Recital “Two Hearts”
  Works by G. Konstantinidis, G. Kazasoglou, N. Taylor, K. Giannidis, M. Souyoul, M. Milojevic, S. Rajicic, K. Babic. Artists: Jelena Bankovic (soprano), Alexis Agrafiotis (piano).

• August 13, 2021 – Greek Music and Opera by the Quintet “Aeolus”
  Artists: Vangelis Stathoulopoulos (flute), Yiannis Tselikas (oboe), Angelos Politis (clarinet), Spyros Kakos (horn), Giorgos Farouggias (bassoon). Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• August 16, 2021 – Concert with Young Corfiot Soloists
  Works by F. Schubert, F. Chopin, M. Ravel, G. Donizetti, G. Verdi. Artists: Georgia Tryfona (soprano), Sotiris Louizos (piano).

• August 21, 2021 – Anniversary Concert of the Gastouri Corfu Philharmonic “Omonia”
  Celebrating 123 years since its founding, dedicated to Spyros Kritikos. Works by Verdi, Puccini, Pirola, Iakono, Piovani, Denza, Piazzolla, etc. Soloists: Alexandros Stavropoulos (tenor), Gulio Sacchi (alto horn), Francesco Scalone (euphonium), Giorgos Rarakos (tuba), Michalis Michalopoulos (flugelhorn). Music direction: Spyros Rallis.

• August 22, 2021 – Jazz Under The Full Moon
  Artists: Dimos Dimitriadis (saxophone), Dinos Manos (double bass), Vasilis Pontaras (drums), Alexandros Lykothanasis (piano), Anastasios Konstantinou (voice).

• September 1, 2021 – Opera Night with Soprano Myrto Papathanasiou
  Works by G. Verdi, G. Puccini, C. Gounod, L.V. Beethoven. Artists: Myrto Papathanasiou (soprano), Yiannis Tsanakaliotis (piano). Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• September 4, 2021 – Concert of Austrian and Greek Composers
  Works by F. Schubert, G. Mahler, H. Wolf, E.W. Korngold, Lavrendios Kamilieris, Spyridon Samaras, Napoleon Lambelet. Artists: Dymfna Meijtz (mezzo-soprano), Panagiotis Pratsos (bass-baritone), Kazuko Steller (piano). Co-organized with the Austrian Embassy.

• September 5, 2021 – Lecture: “Lord Byron and the Greek Revolution of 1821”
  Speaker: Roderick Beaton, Emeritus Professor of Modern Greek and Byzantine History, Language, and Literature, King’s College London. Musical performance of songs to Byron’s poetry. Artists: Roza Poulimenou (soprano), Neville Jason Fahy (piano). Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• September 10, 2021 – Screening of “Destinyland: A Digital Odyssey”
  Documentary on Empress Sisi, created and directed by Sarantos Zervoulakos.

• September 11, 13, 15, 2021 – Cinema at the Achilleion, “Sisi” Trilogy
  Screenings of the films “Princess Sisi,” “Sisi, The Young Empress,” “The Fateful Years of Sisi.” Co-organized with the Corfu Association for Culture, Sports, and Environment.

• August 17, 2021 – Corfu Literary Festival: Lecture “Sisi and Celebrity”
  Speakers: Professor Sarah Churchwell and author Alex Preston.

• September 18, 2021 – Museum Education Reading Activity “Maria Callas, The Girl With a Thousand Names”
  Presentation by Katerina Lagou; song performance by the Music School of Corfu Vocal Ensemble, Stamatina Karydi (soprano), Marilena Eloul (piano).

• September 25, 2021 – Corfu Philharmonic Society Concert
  Works for string orchestra conducted by Alkis Baltas. Excerpts from “The Book of Empress Elisabeth.” Narrators: Anastasios Diavatis, Anastasia Aroni.

• October 2, 2021 – Mántzaros Philharmonic Concert
  Concert marking the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution. Works by P. Karrer, Sp. Samaras, N.H. Mántzaros, F. Herold, M. Theodorakis. Music direction: Socratis Anthi.