Theodora, Empress of Byzantium opera premieres in Athens

The new Greek opera ‘Theodora, Empress of Byzantium’, composed and written by Theodoros Stathis, premiered at the Olympia ‘Maria Callas’ Municipal Music Theatre on September 30. The production aims to present the Byzantine empress as a complex, deeply human figure, moving beyond her traditional historical image to highlight her personal journey and political influence.

Soprano Christina Poulitzi performs the title role, establishing the vocal and stage identity for this new work. The production also features baritone Dimitris Tiliakos as Justinian and tenor Filippos Modinos as the ‘Apostle of History’.

Directed by Panos Angelopoulos, the performance integrates historical narrative with modern technology, utilizing 3D video mapping by the Videotooth team to create digital sets. The work is based on extensive historical research into Byzantine sources to depict Theodora’s rise from the margins of power to the heart of the empire.