Antigone

Introduction

“Antigone” is a 2005 play directed by Greek actress Irene Papas, based on the classic original by Greek playwright Sophocles (496-406 BC), for which Vangelis composed an original score. The play was staged at the ancient Greek Theatre of Syracuse (Italy) on the island of Sicily during the 41st Festival of Classical Drama. The performance premiered in the evening of the 14th of May 2005, and was repeated about every other day until the 25th of June 2005.

The beautiful 5th century BC ancient Greek Theater of Syracuse could not have been a more appropriate location to stage the classic Greek play. The stage of Antigone was tailor-made consisting of a white circle with shallow steps in the background, lined with numerous huge white statues of Greek Cycladic figurines.

The play opened with a terrifying scream and the appearance of soldiers running from the stage into the audience. Most actors were dressed in black, with the exception of Antigone (dressed in white) and Eurydice (in scarlet red) which made a stark contrast against the white stage. Some of the scenes presented were very dramatic and made a truly emotional impact.

The play lasted some 85 minutes, with Vangelis' music playing throughout. According to Irene Papas Vangelis composed some 150 minutes of music for the play, all of it remains unreleased. Almost 70 minutes of music was used in the play. During several scenes both male and female choruses appeared on stage, at times singing along with Vangelis' music live on stage.

Much of the music heard during the play is atmospheric and dramatic, enhancing the scenes and underlining the dialogue of the play. Some parts have a more melodic feel and in sound resemble the music heard in Oliver Stone's film "Alexander" (2004). The end theme though repetitive is a dramatic and haunting composition.

At the venue an elaborate programme of the play was available for sale, as well as a smaller booklet only containing the dialogue of the play. The city of Syracuse was covered with posters advertising the festival in general, while other posters presented the details for Antigone itself. Specific for the plays performed in the Greek Theatre a leaflet was handed out providing a schedule of the performances.

Antigone turned out to be the last play with Irene Papas for which Vangelis provided a music score. Earlier such plays are:

"Electra" (1983) performed at the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus (Greece)
"Medea" (1992) performed at the Greek Theatre in Barcelona (Spain)
“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)

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). Aged 93, Irene Papas passed away on the 14th of September 2022.

Details and credits

Title: Antigone
Year: 2005
Country: Italy
Length: 85 minutes
Direction and scenography by Irene Papas.
Written by Sophocles.
Italian translation by Maria Grazia Ciani.
Music by Vangelis.
Artistic collaboration: Fulvio Ardone
Assistant directors: Paolo Emilio Landi, Salvo Bitonti and Annalisa Buccellato.
Choreography: Aurelio Gatti
Choreography assistent: Simona Gatto
Costumes: Sofia Kokosalaki
Music direction: Stefano Marcucci
Audio production: Hubert Westkemper
Lighting design: Bruno Ciulli
Stage managers: Marco Andriolo and Michele Scalet.

Cast

Galatea Ranzi - Antigone
Micol Pambieri - Ismene
Alessandro Haber - Creon
Maurizio Donadoni - guard
Roberto Salemi - Haemon
Maurizio Donadoni - Tiresias
Davide Guidi - Escort of Tiresias
Francesco Biscione - messenger
Debora Lentini - Eurydice
Coryphaei: Francesco Biscione, Andrea Cavatorta, Paolo Cosenza andGiancarlo Ratti
Chorus of old Thebans: Luca Arcangeli, Giuliano Brunazzi, Andrea Calbucci, Giuseppe Calcagno, Andrea Davi, Andrea Galata, Andrea Naso, Walter Palamenga, Francesco Polizzi, Giuseppe Provinzano, Antonio Reina, Marco Sabatino, Luigi Tabita and Emilio Torrisi.
Chorus of women: Rita Abela, Stefania Bongiovanni, Simonetta Cartia, Tiziana D’Angelo, Laura Dell’Albani, Francesca Di Santo, Simona Gatto, Carmelinda Gentile, Angelica Marcucci, Gabriella Mazzone, Cristina Mirto and Tea Sammarti.
Sentry: Tino Calabro, Michele Dell’Utri, Antonio Duronio, Leonardo Gambardella, Salvo Germano, Massimo Giustolisi, Massimiliano Inturri, Francesco Perciballi, Giordano Petri, Eugenio Santovito, Diego Savastano, Santo Amenta, Santi Campisi, Francesco Capanna, Alessandro Figura, Giuseppe Gionfriddo, Gianluca Latina, Gianfranco Principato, Santi Scollo, Giorgio Tarantello and Antonio Pisasale.