“Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera” Debuts at Carnegie Hall

From left, Peishan Lo, Billy Chrissochos, Dimitris Lambrianos, Meredith Bogacz, Frank Pace, Demetrios Tsinopoulos, Paul Cerni. Front row: Christos Alexandrou, Mia Stevens, Richard Khuzami, George Tsalikis, Elaine Tuttle, Dena Stevens

“Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera”, will debut at Carnegie Halls’ Zankel Theater on Sunday, May 3, 2015.The theme arose out of the simple concept to combine Greek history and folk music with hard rock and melodic metal.

“Poet you will sing about the day
We pledged our hearts my love and I
To the glorious empire of Greece
For what is man’s soul of culture deprived?”

The preceding excerpt is taken from Porphyra’s crowning epic “988AD- In the Time of Basil II Emperor of Byzantium”, enthusiastically labeled as “Byzantine Rock” by the press.

Porphyra

This is the story of Grand Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus and Princess Anna Porphyrogenita of Constantinople. They meet and fall in love in the tumultuous year of 988 AD. Following Vladimir and his nation’s conversion to Greek Orthodox Christianity the balance of power shifts, ushering a second Golden Age for Byzantium and a new civilization for young Russia. Our hero, Vladimir was the first King of the Rus, ancestor of the Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians. Princess Anna was instrumental in making Kiev a powerful artistic and religious ByzantineCenter.

Many films and books have been written to glorify the tiny and culturally dynamic nation of Greece. But never has there been a rock opera that has captured its ever evolving history. From Alexander the Great to the apogee of Byzantium, the electric guitar in joyous harmony with bouzouki and violin will take you on an epic journey through the cross starred lovers dreams and ambitions. As the world focuses again on Greece unfortunately due to its economical collapse rather than its cultural legacy, it is a perfect time to revisit that glorious, happier past once again.

Porphyra

“Porphyra, a Grecian Rock Opera”, is based on Billy Chrissochos’ band Porphyra’s epic album “Faith, Struggle, Victory”. It also features new musical compositions, Greek folk songs, belly dancing numbers choreographed by the Dena Stevens Shazadi Dance Project, actors and a 12 piece rock orchestra.

This is a sexy, fun, historical romp in the Greek, Russian and greater Mediterranean world through music. This is the first Greek inspired Rock Opera of its kind for Carnegie Hall and a major step towards taking this unique musical project to Broadway.

Tickets are available at the Carnegie Hall website-Carnegiehall.org.

You can also help financially support the project and receive plenty of exclusive VIP perks and gifts over at their crowd funding campaign at Crowdzu (crowdzu.com). According to the organizers, this money will help with the theater and production expenses, rehearsals, costumes, props and marketing.

And for all things Porphyra head over to their website porphyraband.com.