Opera singer Elena Kelesidi headlined a charity concert in Heraklion, Crete, on Saturday to raise support for the neuromuscular disorder association MDA Hellas.
The musical evening, titled Tribute to Songs of World and Greek Cinema, drew audiences to the Cultural Conference Centre of Heraklion for an artistic programme dedicated to healthcare solidarity.
The world-renowned soprano shared the stage with vocalists Despoina Polykandritou, Giorgos Davlas, and Alexandros Tsaprazis, presenting a high-level performance to benefit the care organisation.
Cinema classics and special dedications
A notable moment of the evening came when performer Giorgos Davlas dedicated a song to the late Marianna Vardinogiannis. Davlas paid tribute to the prominent philanthropist as an outstanding figure who left an enduring mark on Greek culture and humanitarian causes.
Vardinogiannis, who served as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and founded the Elpida Association of Friends of Children with Cancer, was known across Greece for her extensive charitable work before her death in 2023.
Davlas also offered a warm dedication to Greek singer Anna Vissi, performing her song Methysmeni Politeia in recognition of her career and lasting contribution to Greek music. Vissi remains one of the best known figures in contemporary Greek popular music, with a performing career spanning five decades.
The ensemble performed a selection of famous cinematic songs for the charitable cause. The programme featured Marinella's classic track Kamia Fora, the duet Thelo konta sou na meino by Giannis Vogiatzis and Tzeni Vanou, and the Stamatis Kokotas song Pes pos m' antamoses, alongside a range of international and Greek film melodies.
The featured repertoire highlighted the golden age of Greek cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, when prominent vocalists recorded signature ballads that became permanent fixtures of Greek musical culture.
Support for neuromuscular patients
The concert was organised to aid the Association of Care for Persons with Neuromuscular Diseases, known as MDA Hellas. Organisers described the event as a meaningful act of assistance that demonstrated the value of social sensitivity and institutional cooperation.
MDA Hellas operates as a specialised non-profit organisation in Greece, assisting children and adults diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, and related genetic conditions. These disorders impair voluntary muscle movement and often require lifelong specialized medical supervision.
The charity works to establish specialised medical units in public hospitals, while also supplying physical therapy, psychological counselling, and vital mobility equipment to patients and their families.
Organisers noted that strong audience attendance demonstrated the power of culture as a mechanism for public awareness, solidarity, and material support for vulnerable citizens.
Cultural venue and artistic legacy
The gathering brought together community and cultural figures in Crete, with attendees including MDA Hellas president Vana Lavida, Giorgos Kaloutsakis, and Elena Kelesidi.
Kelesidi has sustained an international career in classical music, appearing as a principal lyric soprano at major international opera houses including London's Royal Opera House at Covent Garden and the Vienna State Opera, as well as the Greek National Opera in Athens.
The concert took place at the Cultural Conference Centre of Heraklion, the premier modern performing arts complex on the island of Crete. Located in Crete's administrative capital, the centre regularly hosts symphonic concerts, opera productions, and regional cultural gatherings.
By uniting classic cinema music with support for medical care, the performance underscored the continuing tradition of Greek artists using their public platforms to assist charitable health initiatives.
