The History
1927
Young Lied singer Alexandra Trianti experiences the rich and vibrant Viennese musical life in the Musikverein Concert Hall. Once back home, she is determined to act: Athens is in need of a proper place for concerts. She will devote her life to this cause.
1953
The Friends of Music Society is founded, with the objective to promote the construction of a concert hall. It is supported by the most influential intellectuals and politicians of the time. Among them is 19-year-old Christos Lambrakis, the man whose name will be identified with the establishment and the flourishing of Megaron.
1955
Dimitri Mitropoulos conducts the New York Philharmonic in Athens for the first time. The concert’s proceeds are offered as financial assistance to The Friends of Music Society.
Model of the building by the architect Emmanouil Vourekas
1971
Recommended by Herbert von Karajan, German acoustics expert Heinrich Keilholtz collaborates with architect Emmanouil Vourekas to complete the building’s construction design and plans.
1976
Prime Minister Konstantinos Karamanlis lays the cornerstone of the building.
Leonidas Kavakos (violin) and Janis Vakarelis (piano) inaugurate the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall with a recital
1991
Megaron is inaugurated. The elegant luxury of its interiors and the technological innovation of its installations, the attention to detail, and –above all– the superior acoustics of its halls, make it a landmark that will forever change the city’s image.
1991
THE FIRST CONCERTS
Three symphonies mark the opening of Megaron: Violinist and conductor Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists and the Athens State Orchestra under the baton of Alexandros Symeonidis, inspire the public in the sold out concerts in the Friends of Music Hall – now Christos Lambrakis Hall – that welcomes 1,961 spectators.
Extroversion becomes a Megaron trademark, and Athens reaches the status of an international cultural centre: famous orchestras, chamber music orchestras, opera productions, great recitals fascinate the audience. Classical music in all its forms and eras is presented through original themes and seasons.
Sir Neville Mariner was artistic director of Camerata, Friends of Music Orchestra, between 2000 – 2001
1991
The Athens Camerata (Friends of Music Orchestra) –internationally acclaimed as Armonia Atenea– is founded in 1991 at the initiative of Christos Lambrakis. It has since evolved into a dynamic ensemble, with a rich artistic and educational output and award-winning recordings under the baton of Alexandros Myrat, Sir Neville Marriner and Christopher Warren-Green. Today the orchestra continues under the direction of George Petrou.
2005
MEGARON PLUS
Megaron Plus hosts charismatic speakers from Greece and abroad, in events that promote constructive public debate, tackling modern-day concerns about political, social, scientific, environmental and cultural issues. This forum for critical thinking is particularly popular among young audiences. Rem Koolhaas was the first speaker of Megaron Plus.
INTERACTIONS
In the course of its 30 years in operation, Megaron has welcomed over 15 million spectators and visitors. Impressive as this number may be, its true value can only be appreciated if multiplied by the sense of elation that each and every one of us feels, when the beauty and power of art offer us a view of the world from above.
Janis Vakarelis, soloist and Christoph Eschenbach, director of Orchestre de Paris (2002)
Manos Hatzidakis, Orchestra of Colours (1991) ©Anagnostopoulos Brothers
Sviatoslav Richter (1993) ©Anagnostopoulos Brothers
Seiji Ozawa, 1998 ©Akriviadis
Maurizio Pollini, 1999 ©Akriviadis
Daniele Gatti, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (2015) ©Akriviadis
Yuri Temirkanov, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (2012) ©Akriviadis
Mikis Theodorakis, St. Petersburg Choir Chapel Symphony Orchestra, ©Anagnostopoulos Brothers
Theodoros Antoniou © Pappas
Claudio Abbado, Berliner Philharmoniker (1998) ©Akriviadis
Ivan Fischer, Budapest Festival Orchestra (2015) ©Akriviadis
Thomas Hengelbrock, Balthasar Neumann Ensemble and Choir, 2019 ©Akriviadis
Teodor Currentzis and MuwsicAeterna (2017) ©Akriviadis
Joshua Bell, 2010 ©Pappas
Anne-Sophie Mutter, Chamber Orchestra Vienna-Berlin (2019) ©Akriviadis
Renée Fleming, 2011©Akriviadis
Marlis Petersen, DER SWERG (2007), by Alexander von Zemlinsky © Stefanos
Costa Gavras, Lydia Koniordou, Yorgos Patsas, Yorgos Dalaras, preparing the production “With Light and Death, never ending” (1994)
Leonidas Kavakos ©Marco Borggreve
Mstislav Rostropovich (1992)
Dionyssis Savopoulos – Eleni Vitali, Megaron Garden (2016) ©Akriviadis
Dimitris Sgouros (1992) ©Αlex Vetoulis
LA TRAVIATA (2004), Giuseppe Verdi, costume: Nikos Georgiadis ©Yannis Bournias
LA TRAVIATA (2004), Giuseppe Verdi, costume: Nikos Georgiadis ©Yannis Bournias
Jonas Kaufmann (2011) ©Pappas
Ζubin Mehta, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (2016) ©Akriviadis
Melina Merkouri & Irini Karaianni, PYLADIS (1992), by George Kouroupos, dir. Dionysis Fotopoulos ©Takis Diamantopoulos
Yannis Markopoulos (2007) ©Akriviadis
