2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture - Mystery 35 Αeschylus Project – Iannis Xenakis: Oresteia

The words of Aeschylus combine archaic grandeur, ritual robustness, and Dionysian ecstasy. Iannis Xenakis – a foundational figure of the international avant-garde music scene during the second half of the 20th century – was directly inspired by these elements when composing his Oresteïa (1965-1966), a work that distils the plot and very essence of the Aeschylean trilogy, teetering on the cusp between opera, oratorio, and ritualistic dance theatre. Without any intention of employing traditional “embellishments,” the music places an emphasis on primal rhythms (hence the extensive use of percussion instruments), and on the expressive power of speech, which is constantly hewn and remoulded by means of imaginative and contemporary compositional techniques. This centenary year of the great composer’s birth presents a fantastic opportunity for the revival of his thrilling, evocative, and altogether immensely demanding piece of music at the hands of the Athens State Orchestra and its top-tier artistic associates.