It had been a while — actually, way too long — since my last visit to the Greek National Opera.

And even though Anna Bolena is not necessarily my favorite opera (let’s be honest, it has its moments… but also its slower ones), the temptation was just too strong. First, to come back to this beautiful theatre. And second, to reconnect with the unique atmosphere of this incredible city.

A quick word on Anna Bolena

For those less familiar with the piece, Anna Bolena by Gaetano Donizetti premiered in 1830 in Milan and is considered one of the composer’s major works. It is also the first part of what is often referred to as the “Tudor Trilogy,” alongside Maria Stuarda and Roberto Devereux — three operas centered around the tragic destinies of figures from the English court.

The role of Anna Bolena is legendary, not least because of Maria Callas, who played a key role in reviving the opera in the 20th century and turning it into a cornerstone of the bel canto repertoire.

And yes — when it works, it really works.

The cast

Petros Magoulas (Enrico VIII)
A slightly cautious start, especially in his first moments, but as the evening progressed, he grew into the role. The staging clearly pushes him toward a cruel, almost terrifying Henry VIII, and by the end, he fully embraced that dimension. A strong and convincing performance overall.

Maria Kosovitsa (Anna Bolena) & Miranda Makrynioti (Giovanna Seymour)
The two leading ladies of the evening delivered exactly what you want from this opera: tension, vocal fire, and a sense of rivalry.

From “Come, innocente giovane” to the final confrontations, there was a constant feeling that each was trying to outshine the other — in the best possible way. And that’s exactly what makes Anna Bolena exciting. Their voices blended beautifully in the duets, but there was always that edge, that competition. A real pleasure to watch and hear.

Yanni Yannissis (Lord Rochefort)
A solid presence with a strong, well-projected voice. Clear, confident, and effective throughout.

Yannis Christopoulos (Lord Riccardo Percy)
A very good performance as Percy, especially in moments like “Vivi tu, te ne scongiuro”, where he managed to bring both elegance and emotional intensity.

Diamanti Kritsotaki (Smeton)
The real highlight of the evening for me.

A truly talented singer who introduced me — properly — to “Ah! parea che per incanto”. A beautiful, delicate, and expressive moment. I even took out my phone (yes, I know…) to capture a short excerpt, and the feedback on Instagram was immediate: people loved it. And rightly so. A voice full of promise and sensitivity.

The staging… let’s talk about it

There were actually some interesting ideas in the staging.

But — and it’s a big but — it was constantly interrupted by added scenes filled with war noises, screams, and strange atmospheric moments that brought… absolutely nothing to the story.

And worse: they stopped the music.

Each time — 3 to 4 minutes of noise, chaos, and confusion. Around me, you could hear sighs. Real, collective sighs.

Let me put it this way: a tiramisu doesn’t need to be reinvented.
And this felt a bit like talking about the stock market right after making love.

Why interrupt the flow of the music — especially in an opera like this — with long, unnecessary sequences that break all emotional momentum? Even more frustrating when it happens right after one of the most beautiful openings in the repertoire.

Honestly, it felt like a decision made against the music, rather than with it.

Final thoughts

Despite that, I had a really enjoyable evening.

There’s something special about being here — the theatre, the atmosphere, the audience. It all works.

A very warm thank you once again to Sophia and the entire team of the Greek National Opera for the invitation and the welcome.

I’m already looking forward to discovering the 2026/2027 season — and I will definitely be back, with the same passion and love, to this beautiful place.

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CAST

Conductor: Jacques Lacombe
Stage direction: Themelis Glynatsis
Sets: Leslie Travers
Original costumes: Nicholas Georgiadis
Costume revival: Niki Psyhogiou, Themelis Glynatsis
Movement: Katerina Gevetzi
Lighting: Howard Hudson
Sound curator: Thanos Polymeneas-Liontiris
Chorus master: Agathangelos Georgakatos

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Enrico VIII

Petros Magoulas

Anna Bolena

Maria Kosovitsa

Giovanna Seymour

Miranda Makrynioti 

Lord Rochefort

Yanni Yannissis

Lord Riccardo Percy

Yannis Christopoulos

Smeton

Diamanti Kritsotaki

Hervey

Manos Kokkonis