Baritone Georgios Iatrou Joins Hamburg Opera for John Neumeier's “Odyssey” Revival

Celebrated Greek baritone George Iatrou will join the stage of the Hamburg State Opera for the much-anticipated revival of John Neumeier's ballet "The Odyssey". The ballet, inspired by the Homeric epic and featuring music composed by George Kouroupos, marks a significant milestone as it returns to the Hamburg State Opera to coincide with the celebrated American choreographer's 85th birthday.

Following his recent success as "Tiresias" in the European tour of Elli Papakonstantinou's "Bacchae", George Iatrou makes a European comeback with a riveting portrayal of Demodocus, the mythical hero in Neumeier's rendition of "The Odyssey". The character, a blind Phaeacian shepherd and poet struggling with the aftermath of war, showcases Iatrou's vocal prowess as he navigates the intricacies of the unique aria composed for the baritone.

In preparation for his role, Iatrou worked closely with composer George Kouroupos, delving into the complexities of the aria. Describing the piece as vocally demanding, with extremes of range and emotional intensity, Iatrou emphasised the special connection with the instruments created specifically for the performance.

Iatrou's performances are scheduled for February 28 and March 1 & 2 at the Hamburg State Opera, with an encore performance in July as part of the German Opera Dance Festival.

"The Odyssey" had its world premiere in 1995 at the Athens Concert Hall, with music by Giorgos Kouroupou, choreography and direction by John Neumeier, and sets and costumes by Yannis Kokkos. George Kouroupos, the composer, received awards such as the N. Kazantzakis Prize and the International Benois de la Danse Prize (1996) for his symphonic ballet, a joint production of the Athens Concert Hall and the Hamburg State Opera.