Events organised by the Press and Communication Office in Tirana- 2009
December 2-4, 2009 - Three-day event for the centenary of the birth of Giannis Ritsos
The Press and Communication Office in Tirana in collaboration with the Embassy of Greece in Albania and the Tirana Center of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture organized a three-day tribute to poet Giannis Ritsos from 2 to 4 of December 2009. Each day of the tribute was dedicated to a separate aspect of Giannis Ricos’ artistic work, i.e.:
- The first event on Wednesday, December 2nd, which took place at the Cultural Center of the Albanian Army, was dedicated to the poetry of Giannis Ritsos, with lectures on the poetry of Ritsos by Albanian and Greek experts, recitations of poems in Greek by students of the Arsakeio Greek-Albanian College and the Department of Greek Language of the University of Tirana and readings of theatric monologues by two famous Albanian actresses, Margarita Tzepa and Ema Andrea. In the same event a message by the daughter of the poet Ms Eri Ritsos saluting the event was read by Ms Irena Toci, head of TOENA publications, which recently issued a volume of Ritsos poetry.
- On Thursday, December 3rd at the "Black Box" hall of the Academy of Arts of Tirana, the focus was on the paintings of Giannis Ritsos, featuring lectures by Albanian experts, among which the winner of the highest award by the President of the Albanian Republic, scholar Natzi Bakalli, who explored the similarities in the artistic expression between Giannis Ritsos and Albanian painter and sculptor Gavril Priftuli. The same evening, in an adjacent exhibition hall, students of the Academy of Arts presented their works of art which were inspired by the poetic work and iconography of Giannis Ritsos. Prizes were awarded to the best works.
- On Friday, December 4th at the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Albania the Symphonic Orchestra and the Chorus of the Opera Theater of Tirana presented the songs of Epitaphios, based on the well-known Ritsos poem, music composed by Mikis Theodorakis, conducted by Edmond Doko and performed by soprano soloist Vasiliki Maria Zacharopoulou. Before the concert the director of the Tirana Center of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Mr. Giorgos Giakoumis read a message by Mikis Theodorakis, followed by brief video material, describing the historical events that inspired the creation of Epitaphios and explaining the reasons of its popularity.
A total of 140 musicians, singers, actors, academics, university professors and students participated in this three-day tribute to poet Giannis Ritsos. The Head of the Press and Communication Office, Mr. Christos Apostolopoulos addressed the public with an essay on Ritsos poetry and the Secretary for Press Ms Florentia Kiortsis presented the three-day event. The three-day tribute was attended by the Ambassador of Greece in Tirana Mr. Nicholas Pazios, who greeted the opening and the closure of the event, and many guests, with important representatives of political, economic and academic community in Albania featuring among them. The event received wide coverage among Albanian media and the concert of the Epitaphios songs was aired on Albanian Public TV (RTSH) on Christmas Day.
October 8-10, 2009 - Greek Cinema Days in Tirana
The Press and Communication Office in Tirana, in collaboration with the Embassy of Greece in Albania, the Tirana Center of the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, the Greek Film Center, the International Short Film Festival of Drama and the Film Company “90 Production”, sponsored by Alpha Bank, organized a three day festival featuring some of the most well known films of contemporary Greek cinema, October 8th-10th 2009 in “Imperial” cinema of Tirana.
The opening event was attended by a massive audience, while it was greeted by the Ambassador of Greece in Tirana, Mr. Nicolaos Pazios, the vice president of the Greek Film Center, Mr. Dimitris Sofianopoulos, the famous Greek actor Mr. Lakis Lazopoulos, film director and writer Mr. Achilles Kyriakides, as well as the artistic director of the event, Mr. Bujar Alimani.
The event was presented by the head of the Press and Communication Office of the Greek Embassy Mr. Christos Apostolopoulos and Press Secretary Mrs. Florentia Kiortsi, and was honored by the presence of the Minister of Labor of Albania, Mr. Spyros Xerras, ex vice president of the Albanian Parliament, Dr. Neritan Ceka and the famous Albanian actress Mrs. Margarita Tzepa, among other prominent figures of culture.
Five feature and seven short films were projected during the festival with “Eternity and a Day” by Theo Angelopoulos, “Evdokia” by Alexis Damianos and “It’s a long road” aka “Ola einai dromos” by Pandelis Voulgaris among them.
June 17, 2009- Commemorating event for the completion of 100 years since the birth of Giannis Ritsos
On June 17 2009 the Greek Embassy Press and Communication Office in Tirana organized at the National Theater of Albania, in collaboration with the Hellenic Foundation of Culture Branch in Tirana, the National Theatre of Albania and with the invaluable help of the National Book Centre in Greece a commemorating event, upon the completion of 100 years since the birth of the poet Giannis Ritsos.
The Ambassador of Greece in Tirana, Mr. Nicolaos Pazios opened the event, whereas a prominent Albanian journalist, Mr. Leonard Olli presented the other guests, which featured four analysts, who elaborated on the poetic and visual art of Giannis Ritsos, with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, writer and transator Mr. Besnik Mustafaj and Dr. Giannis Vojatzis, researcher on Ritsos’ poetry among them.
Analyses were followed by readings of Ritsos’ poems in Greek by pupils of the Arsakeion Hellenic Albanian College in Tirana, students of Greek Literature in the University of Tirana and four well known Albanian actors. The readings as well as the presentations were accompanied by audiovisual material projections and the screening of a documentary about the poet. The musical quartet “Promus” performed music by famous greek composer Mickis Theodorakis.
The event was followed by a cocktail in the National Theatre, where the visitors enjoyed an exhibition of photographic material, as well as of artifacts on stone reminiscent of Ritsos’ work, by students of the National Academy of Arts of Tirana.
