Introduction
In the summer of 1992 the Olympic Games were held in Barcelona in Spain, and for this special event the Greek actress Irene Papas proposed her renowned Spanish colleague Núria Espert to stage a Greek play. Their subject would become “Medea”, the Greek tragedy by ancient playwright Euripides, with Núria Espert directing her first play and Irene Papas taking on the title role. As a friend of Irene Papas Vangelis obliged to provide a musical score for the play, which is appropriately dark and dramatic.
The play premiered on the 24th of July 1992, the day of the opening of the Olymic Games, in the presence of Queen Sofia of Spain at the Greek Theatre of Barcelona, and was performed until August 8th 1992.
Other plays that Irene Papas staged or performed in for which Vangelis provided a musical score are:
- "Electra" (1983) performed at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (Greece)
- “Theodora And I” (1994) performed at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens (Greece) and at the Culturgest in Lisbon (Portugal)
- "Las Troyanas" (2001) performed at the former Altos Hornos steel factory in Sagunto (Spain)
- "Le Troiane ed Ecuba" (2003) performed at Tor Vergata University in Rome (Italy)
- "Antigone" (2005) performed at the Greek Theatre in Syracuse (Italy).
Irene Papas and Vangelis met in Italy in 1970, after which they became life-long friends. She contributed vocals on the Infinity-track of Aphrodite’s Child album “666” that same year and recorded two albums with Vangelis including Greek folk (Odes, 1979) and Byzantine music (Rapsodies, 1986). In 2001 Irene Papas initiated the founding of a consortium of schools for the performing arts, allying three of the world’s most ancient cities, Sagunto (Spain), Rome (Italy) and Athens (Greece).
Aged 93, Irene Papas passed away on the 14th of September 2022.
Details and credits
- Title: Medea
- Year: 1992
- Country: Spain
- Directed by Núria Espert.
- Written by Euripides.
- Translation and adaptation: Ramón Irigoyen.
- Music by Vangelis.
- Sound: Denis Vanzetto.
- Scenography: Ezio Frigerio
- Costumes: Franca Squarciapino
- Choreography by Stuart Hopps.
- Lighting: Bruno Boyer
- Assistant director: Manuel de Benito and Lluís Villanueva.
- Photography: Montse Faixat
- Presented by the Festival Olímpic De Les Arts.
- Supported by the Greek Ministry Of Culture.
Cast
- Irene Papas: Medea
- Manuel de Blas: Jason
- Carlos Lucena: Creon
- Dorotea Bárcena: Nodriza
- Francesc Lucchetti: Pedagogo
- Jordi Dauder: Egeo
- Miquel Cors: Mensajero
- Hug Luchetti: son of Medea and Jason
- Sandra Soriano: daughter of Medea and Jason
Media
Unfortunately the music of “Medea” was never officially released. There is however an audience recording of the performance, which is available online.
Links
Gallery
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Photos by Ros Ribas