Curtain Up at the Megaron: April’s Must-See Performances

Athens Concert Hall has launched its April program with remarkable momentum, setting the stage for a month rich in cultural brilliance. The much-anticipated Spring Festival is just around the corner, bringing internationally acclaimed artists to the spotlight, while world premieres and bold artistic collaborations promise to follow. Below, we’ve gathered this month’s standout events you won’t want to miss.

Megaron Spring Festival (8–14 April 2025)

The annual Megaron Spring Festival returns for its fourth edition, bringing a weeklong celebration of world-class music and performance. Among this year’s stars are mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato (8/4), acclaimed pianists Igor Levit (9/4), Nikolai Lugansky with the Athens State Orchestra (11/4), and Bruce Liu (12/4) with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta. The celebrated Ballet Preljocaj presents the moving new work Requiem(s) (13–14/4), blending ritual and memory into a haunting dance spectacle.

Igor Levit Recital – 9 April (part of the Spring Festival)

Internationally praised for his intellectual depth and emotional intensity, pianist Igor Levit brings to Megaron a program that spans from Bach’s Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue to Liszt’s stirring transcription of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony. Known for connecting deeply with audiences—both online and in concert halls—Levit offers a recital of rare richness and power.

NT Live: Dr. Strangelove – 9 April

A special NT Live screening brings Stanley Kubrick’s iconic satire Dr. Strangelove to the Megaron stage. Directed by Armando Iannucci and starring Steve Coogan in four roles, this darkly hilarious tale of nuclear catastrophe is reimagined for the stage. Presented in collaboration with the British Council and British Embassy, the show includes Greek subtitles.

Ballet Preljocaj: Requiem(s) – 13–14 April (part of the Spring Festival)

Angelin Preljocaj’s new creation delves into mourning and remembrance through expressive movement and evocative rituals. With a cast of 19 dancers and a haunting modern score, Requiem(s) is a poignant reflection on life, death, and healing. Smoke and strobe lighting add to the immersive experience.

Handel’s The Resurrection – 14 April

George Petrou conducts the Camerata – Friends of Music Orchestra in Handel’s glorious Easter oratorio The Resurrection. Featuring standout soloists and a striking visual installation by George Tellos, this performance combines Baroque mastery with multimedia artistry in a powerful spiritual narrative.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem – 16 April

Conductor George Vranos leads the Athens State Orchestra in a night of modern sacred music. Opening with Dimitris Skyllas’ The Judgement Day, inspired by Epirus’ traditional laments, the concert culminates in Webber’s lush and dramatic Requiem, a rare fusion of theatrical flair and classical gravity.

Strindberg’s The Dance of Death – Until 13 April

In this bold new adaptation of Strindberg’s tragicomedy, two eccentric lovers—locked in a vampiric, dysfunctional marriage—celebrate their 25th anniversary in a whirlwind of dark humor, existential dread, and theatrical excess. Kurt’s sudden arrival threatens to upset their grotesque harmony in this surreal, smoke-filled production.

Sanderling & Moreau – 25 April

Conductor Michael Sanderling and cello virtuoso Edgar Moreau join the Athens State Orchestra for a soul-stirring program. Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 showcases Moreau’s commanding technique, while Sibelius’s rarely performed Seventh Symphony takes listeners on a profound orchestral journey.

Greek-German Youth Orchestra Collaboration – 27 April

The Underground Youth Orchestra teams up with the Junge Philharmonie Brandenburg in a vibrant cross-cultural performance. United under the banner of freedom and artistry, these talented young musicians present Beethoven’s Egmont, Saint-Saëns’ The Muse and the Poet, and Shostakovich’s stirring Fifth Symphony. Supported by the Hellenic-German Youth Foundation.

Greek Songs by Foreign Composers – 29 April
A musical tribute to Greece through the eyes of foreign composers, this unique recital reveals Hellenic influence in unexpected places—from Ravel and Shostakovich to Dvořák and Reutter. Chamber works by Dimitris Terzakis and Yiannis Konstantinidis round out a night where ancient poetry and modern sensibility converge.

Artistic Easter at the M Shop

Throughout April, Megaron’s M Shop offers handmade gifts from Greek artists—painted Easter candles, origami rabbits, colorful ceramics, and unique jewelry. Discover collectible vinyls, books, music, and decor in a festive showcase of local craftsmanship and seasonal charm.

Opening hours: 10:00–21:00 (weekdays and weekends)

The M Shop will remain closed from Holy Thursday, April 17, through Easter Tuesday, April 22, 2025.