The Greek National Opera will present a major four-night musical tribute to the late lyricist Marianina Kriezi at the Stavros Niarchos Hall in Athens on October 1, 3, 4, and 7, 2026. The production, titled Even If You Leave, is conceived and artistically directed by the renowned Greek singer and songwriter Dimitra Galani.
Galani will perform on stage alongside singers Savina Yannatou and Giannis Palamidas. They will be accompanied by a ten-piece musical ensemble, comprising a six-piece instrument group and a string quartet, as well as the Greek National Opera Children's Choir.
Each performance is scheduled to begin at 8:00 pm at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. The tribute aims to reconnect audiences with Kriezi's unique artistic world through fresh interpretations and modernized sound arrangements that highlight the lyricism and playfulness of her words.
Honouring a Multifaceted Legacy
The concerts will feature many of Kriezi's most beloved songs spanning across generations of Greek discography. The program includes classic tracks such as Roza Rozalia, Koperti, Plateia Amerikis, Flight 201, Gyali-ntounias, Serenata, Ta Isycha Vradia, and Sabotage.
Throughout her career, Kriezi moved with creative freedom and consistently avoided conventional artistic categorization. She was known for her rare sensitivity, restless gaze, and deeply feminine perspective in observing the world. In her hands, language became a playful mix of song, observation, and subtle insinuation that turned ordinary daily moments into meaningful poetry.
The Greek National Opera, established in 1939, is Greece's premier state institution for opera and musical theatre. Its venue at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, located in the coastal suburb of Kallithea in Athens, was designed by architect Renzo Piano and opened in 2016 as a modern landmark for performing arts.
The Magic of Lilipoupoli
Kriezi's name became inextricably linked with Here Lilipoupoli, a legendary children's radio show that first aired in 1977. The broadcast created an imaginative universe where children's fantasy coexisted with sharp humor, satire, and social commentary on reality.
Reflecting on that creative period, Kriezi once recalled that the creators did whatever they wanted and played whatever they wanted. Behind her playful writing lay a sharp gaze that challenged the standard conventions of Greek songwriting.
Although famous for her work for children, Kriezi wrote for listeners of all ages who sought emotion, laughter, and a resistance to cynicism and pomposity. In addition to her songwriting, Kriezi wrote theatrical texts for Eleftheri Skini, an influential theatrical troupe formed in the 1970s that revitalized Greek satirical revue theatre.
Her relationship with radio expanded beyond Lilipoupoli through her work as a producer for Hellenic Radio, the Greek state broadcasting corporation. She viewed radio as an intimate medium of imagination and creative freedom, a trajectory shaped by her early encounter with the Third Programme under composer Manos Hadjidakis.
Biographical Journey from Athens to Paris
Born in Athens in 1947, Kriezi had ancestral roots on the Saronic island of Hydra and grew up in the residential suburb of Psychiko. She studied English literature at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and trained in interior and stage design at the Athens School of Fine Arts.
In 1969, Kriezi moved to Paris to study textile design at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs. Following her return to Greece, her versatile output encompassed children's books, radio productions, and song lyrics written for composers such as Lena Platonos, Nikos Kypourgos, Dimitris Marangopoulos, Giannis Spanos, Lakis Papadopoulos, and Dionysis Tsaknis.
Kriezi passed away on February 6, 2022. She left behind an extensive body of work that extended far beyond her famous radio creations, remaining full of subtle emotional surprises and internal artistic paths.
A Cast of Distinctive Collaborators
Dimitra Galani, who conceived and curated the tribute, is a prominent figure in Greek music whose performing career began in the late 1960s. Galani has collaborated with leading Greek composers and lyricists, while also composing her own songs, film scores, and television soundtracks since the 1990s. In 2004, Galani collaborated directly with Kriezi on the album To S' Agapo Mporei, composing music for Kriezi's lyrics and performing the songs herself.
Co-star Savina Yannatou launched her professional career through Lilipoupoli. She has since built a diverse career spanning Greek entechno art song, early music, traditional folk, free vocal improvisation, and international concert stages.
Vocalist Giannis Palamidas brings a long history of performance across theatre, music, and the performing arts to the production.
Production Team and Ticket Details
The musical arrangements for the production are crafted by Serafeim Giannakopoulos and Antonis Sousamoglou. Their work introduces a modified contemporary sound designed to converse with today while highlighting the lyricism of Kriezi's lyrics.
Stage direction for the tribute is handled by Katerina Petsatodi, with art direction by Lila Sotiriou. The production features video animation by Irini Vianelli and lighting design by Eleftheria Deko. Konstantina Pitsiakou directs the Greek National Opera Children's Choir, which participates as part of its educational mission.
Standard ticket prices for the performances are 15, 20, 30, 35, 42, 50, 55, and 70 euros. Discounted tickets for students and children are priced at 12 euros, while seats with limited visibility cost 10 euros.
Pre-sale tickets are available online at ticketservices.gr and at the Greek National Opera Box Office at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center. The box office operates daily from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and can be reached by phone at +30 2130885700.
