An evening of readings and music.

Visit people and places of Byzantium in the company of a great Greek writer, Nikos Kazantzakis. 29th May 1453 saw the fall of Constantinople, the imperial
capital founded over 1000 years earlier on the site of the ancient city of Byzantium. The Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis is marking the 550th anniversary of this event by inviting you to join the writer of Zorba and The Last Temptation in visiting people and places connected with Byzantine civilisation.

Extracts will be read from plays, travel writings and other works by Kazantzakis on Byzantine themes, to see how he relates Byzantium to his own passionate and provocative beliefs. The programme will begin with a brief introduction to the brilliant civilisation of the Byzantine Empire. Some of the readings will be illustrated by slides and music will include Byzantine chant, Pontian songs on the fall of Constantinople, and modern songs by Kaldaras.

Reading and presentations by: Mary Kostakidis (SBS), Zdenko Zlatar and Dr Alfred Vincent.
Musicians will include: George Apostolidis (Pontian lyra),Manolis Armoutoglou (daouli), Petros Kyriakou (Byzantine chant), Sandy Constantopedos (tenor) and Yannis Bardas (guitar).

LINKS

Biography of Nikos Kazantzakis: www.interkriti.org/culture/kazantzakis/kazantz2.htm

Website of Dr Alfred Vincent: www.arts.usyd.edu.au/departs/moderngreek/AlfredVincent.shtml