Philippos Tsalahouris: Standing Requiem for the poet Anna Akhmatova, opus 48

On October 21 and 23, 2010, the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens, will present composer Philippos Tsalahouris' Standing Requiem for the poet Anna Akhmatova, opus 48 in the framework of the exhibition Politics of Art, which will be inaugurated at the EMST on October 13.

Standing Requiem was conceived of in January 2005 and was first performed in April of that same year at the Benaki Museum. The 40-minute long work requires performers and audience to stand together in the exhibition galleries as the performance takes place. A flute, actors, a dancer, a painter, a violin and a choir endeavor to push the audience into the shadow of the poetic bust of Anna Akhmatova, which, according to her wishes so darkly expressed in the poem "Requiem," should be erected "...there, where she stood for hours...," and not in a square in the customary manner.

Performing in Standing Requiem are actors Rubini Vasilakopoulou, Evanthia Kourmouli, and Nikos Nikas, a.o., dancer Mariza Tsinga, painter Lila Marangoudaki, mezzo-soprano Evgenia Kalophonou, violinist Galina Bratouska, and the choir Opus Femina from the City of Corinth Cultural Center. Visual artist Rena Tsangaiou created the video-art seen during the performance. Sound manager is Georgis Sakellariou. In January 2003, Philippos Tsalahouris presented Pushkin's opera at the EMST with great success. He was given an award by the Academy of Athens in December 2008 and is considered one of the most prolific and active composers of his generation.

Philippos Tsalahouris
Standing Requiem for the poet Anna Akhmatova, opus 48

Performances
Thursday, October 21: 20:00
Saturday, October 23: 19:00 & 21:00